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Final Report 

of the 

State Council of Defense 

of 

i ^ 

I ^^ 

Illinois ' ^ 

1917—1918—1919 




An Ofl&cial Body Created by an Act of the 

General Assembly Approved by the Governor 

May 2, 1917 



Published by authority of the 
STATE OF ILLINOIS 



«C?X3 



n. of ft. 
NOV 22 1919 



<-' 






TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

Officers and Members of Council, v 

Letter of transmittal to Governor Frank O. Lowden 1 



Chapter 



I. Origin and Organization 7 

II. Setting up Council Machinery 10 

III. Making the Machinery Work 15 

IV. How the Council was Financed 19 

V. Women : The Council's Right Arm 22 

VI. Waking up Illinois 25 

VII. Food: Illinois' Biggest War Work 36 

VIII. Fuel: Illinois Takes the Lead 43 

IX. Military Affairs: State and National 52 

X. Executing United States Government Tasks 55 

XI. Working for the Army and Navy 62 

XII. A Helping Hand to Illinois Business 65 

XIII. For Military, Naval and Civilian Health 67 

XIV. "Profiteering in Patriotism" Checked 69 

XV. War Records and War History 71 

XVI. New Laws Inspired by the Council 7?) 

XVII. Winding up the Council Activities 75 

Appendix Page 

I. A Bill, For an Act to Establish a State Council of Defense, etc.... 77 
II. ResolYition by the State Council of Defense on the Death of John 

P. Hopkins 79 

III. Rules, Officers and Standing Committees of the State Council of 

Defense 80 

IV. Counties Auxiliary and Neighborhood Committee of the State 

Council, Final Report of 83 

V. Cook County Auxiliary of the State Council of Defense, Final 

Report of 96 

VI. Financial Statement 103 

VII. Woman's Committee, Final Report of 105 

VIII. Publicity Department, Final Report 159 

IX. Unified Bureau of Public Speakers, Final Report of 162 

X. Four Minute Men, Final Report of 164 

XI. U. S. Government War Exposition, Final Report of 184 

XII. Illinois Centennial Celebration, Chicago Committee, Final Report.... 187 

XIII. Food Production and Conservation Committee, Final Report of 190 

XIV. U. S. Boys' Working Reserve, Final Report of 205 

XV. Fuel for the Use of Public and Quasi-Public Institutions of the 

State, Final Report of 216 

XVI. Fuel Economy of the Electrical Railways, Final Report of 218 

XVII. Alilitary Affairs, State and Local Defense, Committee on, Final 

Report of 220 

iii 



XVIII. Commercial Economy Administration, Final Report of 242 

XIX. Non-War Construction Bureau, Final Report of 245 

XX. Public Service Reserve (Ship Builders), Final Report of 246 

XXI. Civilian Personnel Committee, Final Report of 247 

XXII. Home Registration Service Committee, Final Report of 249 

XXIII. Highways Transport Committee, Final Report of 251 

XXIV. Engineering and Inventions Committee (Naval Consulting Board), 

Final Report of 254 

XXV. Spyglasses, Binoculars and Telescopes, Committee on (For Use of 

Navy ) , Final Report of ^ 255 

XXVI. Advisory Committee of the Electrical Industry, Final Report of 256 

XXVII. U. S. Merchant Marine, Final Report of 257 

XXVIII. Law and Legislation, Committee on, Final Report of 258 

XXIX. War Recreation Service Committee, Final Report of 259 

XXX. War Business Committee, Final Report of 262 

XXXI. Sanitation, Medicine and Public Health, Committee on. Final 

Report of 264 

XXXII. License Committee for War Aid and War Charities, Final 

Report of 268 

XXXIII. War History, Advisory Committee on, Final Report of 272 



State Council of Defense of Illinois 



OFFICERS 



SAMUEL INSULL, Chairman 
B. F. HARRIS, Vice-chairman 
JOHN P. HOPKINS* Secretary 
J. OGDEN ARMOUR, Treasurer 



MEMBERS 



J. Ogden Armour 
Dr. Frank Billings 
Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen 
B. F. Harris 
John H. Harrison 
John P. Hopkins* 
Samuel Insull 
Levy Mayer 



John G. Oglesby 
Victor A. Olander 
David E. Shanahan 
John A. Spoor 
Roger C. Sullivan* 
Fred W. Upham 
Charles H. Wacker 
John H. Walker 



*Mr. John P. Hopkins died on October 13, 1918. To fill the vacancy thus 
created. Governor Lowden appointed Mr. Roger C. Sullivan on October 23, 1918. 
Mr. Sullivan assumed his duties at the meeting of the Council held on October 
25, 1918, and was elected Secretary of the Council. 



Final Report 

of the 

State Council of Defense of Illinois 



July 1, 1919 

To the Honorable Frank O. Lowden, 
Governor of Illinois. 

Sir: 

Herewith is submitted the final report of the State Council of De- 
fense of Illinois for the entire period of its active life from the date 
of its creation on May 2, 1917. 

The Council's affairs were wound up and its activities terminated 
as soon as orderly procedure would permit after signing of the armis- 
tice on November 11, 1918; but, the Council having been created "for 
the duration of the war," a skeleton organization was maintained, to 
close up minor business details and to preserve the Covmcil's identity, 
pending official termination of the war period by formal action of the 
President and Senate of the United States. 

Citizens of Illinois may be justly proud of the record of their state 
in the Great War. In men and money and materials — in products of 
the farm, the factory and the mine ; in whole-hearted response to every 
call for service or sacrifice imposed by the time — Illinois gave to the 
nation and to the nation's cause on a scale surpassing even her own 
best traditions and her rank in the union of states. 

The contribution of the State Council of Defense to that record 
cannot be separated from the record itself; for the war-time achieve- 
ments of the state were, in large part, the composite result of efforts 
by the tens and hundreds of thousands of devoted men and women 
in all walks of life who worked under the direction of this Council. 
In summing up the results of their work, it is only fair to lay emphasis 
upon this fact : most of the work done under the Council's direction 
was of a kind that cannot be reduced to tables of statistics or ex- 
pressed in definite terms ; for, in war time as at no other time, mo- 
mentous results are often the product of efforts that cannot be weighed, 
measured, or even approximately estimated. 

In the opinion of the State Council of Defense, the superlative con- 
tribution of Illinois to the national resources during the war was unin- 
terrupted social and industrial peace. It is no secret now that condi- 
tions existed in our state at the beginning of the war which were the 
occasion of grave concern. Those conditions passed with scarcely a 

1 



2 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

ripple to mark their passing. This happy result was the product of 
many forces and influences. The State Council of Defense believes 
its most important work was done in giving effective cohesion, direc- 
tion and momentum to those forces and influences, and in focusing 
them for the production of a public morale that was impregnable 
throughout the most trying period in the state's history. Two com- 
prehensive facts bear witness: (1) the selective draft, as well as every 
other governmental war measure, was accepted in Illinois without ques- 
tion or quibble; (2) there was not one strike of importance in the 
state during the war period. 

In all of this, you, sir, not only set the Council an example to fol- 
low, but you made the Council's work infinitely easier than it would 
otherwise have been. From the first you set a pattern of undivided 
loyalty and unfaltering devotion to the cause of the United States. 
You did not seek to curry favor with either pacifists or hyphenates 
by soft speaking; nor did you recognize politics or partisanship as a 
factor in the prosecution of the war. If the Council had not had you 
for its bulwark (and its pioneer in what it undertook to do) its difficul- 
ties would have been tremendous and it might not have overcome all 
of them. 

Credit is also due, and is hereby acknowledged, to the General As- 
sembly which clothed the Council, when creating it, with power to 
make itself effective; and to the elected and appointed officers of the 
state who uniformly assisted and supported the Council's efforts. 

The newspapers of the state, almost without exception, were one 
hundred per cent helpful. From the very first, day by day and week 
by week, they gave the Council complete co-operation, regardless of 
the strain put upon them by war conditions. Without their hearty 
and constant help, the bright war record of Illinois would have been 
impossible. 

Then again that multitude of men and women throughout the 
state who were engaged in one or another kind of war work under 
the direction of, or in co-operation with, the Council — of them it is 
difficult to speak with seemly restraint. They responded promptly and 
effectively to every call upon their time and energies, and those calls 
were many. Besides the specific war tasks laid upon them by the 
Council, and through the Council by the national government, they 
were in most instances the local representatives, organizers and work- 
ers for Liberty Loans, food and fuel production and conservation, the 
Red Cross, and all other recognized war relief or philanthropic under- 
takings. Wherever they went, and in all that they did, practical patriotic 
thought and action were advanced and public morale was strengthened. 

The effectiveness with which the State Council of Defense em- 
ployed the facilities and energies thus placed undei^ts direction is to 
be judged by what Illinois did concretely in the war. This is not to 
say that the Council was directly responsible for the state's contribu- 
tions in men and money and materials ; it is to say that those contribu- 
tions were made promptly and in such generous measure because the 
State Council of Defense organised the public mind of the state for 
every ivar need, j Illinois put into the national military and naval forces, 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 6 

during the period of the Council's activities, a total of 351,153 men: 
24,663 in the navy, 3,678 in the marines and 322,812 in the army. 

The United States borrowed approximately $19,000,000,000 for the 
war on bonds and war savings stamps. Of this sum Illinois furnished, 
in round numbers, $1,650,000,000. In other words, with about 5.5 
per cent of the country's population, Illinois took more than 7.5 per 
cent of the nation's war loans. 

Total collections for various war aid and relief organizations, of 
which a record was kept, ran beyond $45,000,000, divided as follows : 

Red Cross (contributions only) $16,165,100 

Y. M. C. A 4,896,187 

Salvation Army 781,941 

United War Work 13,935,452 

War Recreation Board 550,000 

'*Smileage" Books 100,000 

Under State Council's licenses (partially estimated) 10,000,000 

These figures do not include the first generous contribution to the 
Knights of Columbus or the fees of the two Red Cross membership 
drives. The last sum named above was collected for local aid of all 
kinds and was collected and disbursed with an overhead of approxi- 
mately IO3/2 per cent. 

The crop of 1917 (a war contribution) was the largest of any 
state in that year. The crop of 1918 was third in volume in the his- 
tory of the state and the greatest in money value ever produced by 
any state^$879,679,900 — but it was more than those terms signify. 
It was a war crop in the strictest sense, planned and apportioned, as 
to products, according to the express request of the national food 
authorities, which request was put into effect by Illinois as a definite 
program. 

Notwithstanding the drain upon man power, the state in 1918 turned 
out manufactured products valued at $6,000,000,000— $3,943,000,000 
in Chicago, the rest down-state. Of these, about $2,000,000,000 worth 
were on direct war contracts, but virtually all were war contributions, 
for Illinois factories are not largely given to the production of luxuries 
or non-essentials. 

Add to this record, in a war year, the production of Illinois coal 
fields and oil wells, and the figures reflect credit upon every industry, 
and virtually upon every individual, in the state. 

These contributions by Illinois in men, money and materials repre- 
sented more than fertile fields and wide-spread industries ; they repre- 
sented an organised state of mind, civilian morale and team ivork. No 
matter what specific undertaking the Council had in mind, prepara- 
tion of the people for war-time duties was always its first considera- 
tion. It undertook to help the government get done the things the 
government wanted done, instead of telling the government how to 
run the war. The Council took requests of the national government 
as orders. In turn, the Council's subsidiary and auxiliary organizations 
took the State Council's requests as orders. Consequently, acceptance 
of the draft law, of food and fuel restrictions, of food production re- 



4 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

quirements, of amusement curtailment, of longer working hours, of 
restrictions upon business and industry, and of money demands in un- 
heard-of amounts, were all achieved not only without protest, but 
heartily. 

Whilst in all this the Council followed the direction of the national 
government in general, it did not hesitate, when occasion required, to 
initiate and to point the way. Thus, to name but a few examples, 
this Council and its subsidiaries may be said to have set the pace for 
other state councils and for the federal government itself in respect to 
the following: 

(1) Declaration for federal control of basic commodities, especially food, 
fuel and transportation. 

(2) Intensive cultivation of patriotism by neighborhoods and communities 
as represented by the Council's Neighborhood Committee. 

(3) Fostering the beginnings of the Four-Minute Men. 

(4) Development of a definite food production program for the entire state. 

(5) The seed corn campaign which saved the Illinois corn crop of 1918 
and helped other states. 

(6) Definite promotion of, and co-operation with, the U. S, Boys' Working 
Reserve and formation of farm labor bureaus to insure both the 
planting and harvesting of the great war crop of 1918. 

(7) Exploitation of the "Mercer County Plan" for selling Liberty Bonds 
and for raising Red Cross and other welfare funds. 

(8) Organized effort by states and lesser units to conserve money, materials 
and man power for the necessities of essential war industries. 

(9) Providing machinery for supplying shorthanded federal government 
departments with sorely needed civilian help, particularly the technically 
trained. 

(10) Co-ordination of highway transport by motor truck with intcrurban 
electric lines. 

(11) Definite utilization of the Fourth of July for patriotic and American- 
ization purposes, 

(12) Co-ordination and co-operation — complete team work — among all organ- 
izations doing any kind of legitimate war work in Illinois under cither 
the Council or other recognized authority. 

For its own varied and complex tasks, as well as for effective 
co-operation with all other war work agencies, the Council had to 
develop closely-knit organizations for each main branch of its work. 
These organizations covered the entire state, permeated every county, 
and in many counties were carried down to the school district unit. They 
were officered and operated entirely by volunteers, who took hold of 
them and made them function with the sureness of a well-built busi- 
ness machine. 

The men and women who carried on this work under the direction 
of the Council furnished one of the most inspiring features of the 
war period. Too much cannot be said in praise of them. Without 
thought of their own private interests and without hope of reward 
or even recognition of their personal sacrifices and efforts, they gave 
their time, their energy and their best thought without stint. They 
were as truly — and as usefully — in the service of their state and their 
country as were those who bore official titles or wore the nation's uni- 
form. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 5 

Only the high spots — the general operations and composite results — - 
of the work done by these subsidiary and auxiliary organizations of 
volunteers are covered in the succeeding chapters. The details of their 
operations and the machinery employed by them are summarized in 
an appendix to this report; but the complete record (too voluminous 
for inclusion in a single volume) exists only in the records of the 
Council and of its subsidiary and auxiliary organizations, which are 
now among the archives of the State of Illinois. 

The cost of the State Council and its work, expressed in dollars in 
so far as it can be, emphasizes the significance of the general record. 
The State of Illinois made only one appropriation for the Council, 
$50,000. Therefore, the Council has cost the taxpayers of the state, 
as a whole, less than 7/10 of one cent per capita. 

Actual expenditures were, of course, much more than that, but the 
total, including contributed office space and maintenance (light, heat, 
janitor, etc.), was under $275,000. The excess not provided for by 
state appropriation was met by: private contributions. $100,300; con- 
tributed office space and maintenance (figured at commercial rates), 
$86,090.40; miscellaneous receipts, $44,840.55. Therefore, counting 
every item that can be accurately stated in figures, the total of approx- 
imately $275,000 listed as Council Expenditures was only a little more 
than four cents per capita, which is believed to be the lowest per capita 
cost achieved by any similar war organization. The purposes for which 
the entire amount was spent is shown in the auditor's financial state- 
ment, included in this report. 

But expenditures by the Council on specific departments and for 
definite purposes, as shown in the financial statement, are no gauge 
of the total expenditures for work done under the Council's direction 
by the citizenship of Illinois. The costs of administration for council 
subsidiaries and auxiliaries throughout the state were mostly borne by 
the members of those local organizations who were also doing the work 
committed to their organizations. The Woman's Committee and its 
organizations and many other committees and executive departments 
of the Council itself very largely financed themselves, as shown by 
their reports printed in the appendix. If the Council had had to pay 
commercial prices for what it got done, an appropriation equal to the 
largest given to any State Council — $5,000,000 — would have been none 
too large for Illinois. 

The Council was able to make this record, on the financial side, 
only because it had an army of unpaid volunteers who labored under 
its direction with an enthusiasm and devotion seldom given to one's 
personal aflFairs. These contributions in personal service amounted to 
far more than direct money contributions. Acknowledgment of these 
contributions by name is impossible ; the names alone would make a 
volume ; and since specific acknowledgment of them cannot be made, 
the names of contributors in cash or its equivalent in office facilities 
and the like are also omitted from this report. 

Survey of the State Council's work would be incomplete without 
touching upon many activities not originated by the Council and not 
under its specific direction, but with which the Council closely co-oper- 



b STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

ated, and which are, therefore, summarized in this report. Under this 
head come practically all United States Government war activities, 
military, naval, financial, industrial and social ; also privately organized 
but officially recognized or sanctioned enterprises for soldier, sailor and 
civilian welfare: all this in pursuance of the Council's conception that 
its duty comprehended promotion of every undertaking that might 
contribute in any degree to winning the war. 

Therefore, the work of the State Council of Defense from first to 
last was a demonstration of team work. All war vmdertakings suc- 
ceeded by virtue of the spirit of co-operation. Since this unity of 
thought and purpose can be achieved under stress of war, why can it 
not be approximated, at least, in time of peace? Patriotism is but a 
higher development of team work. The teamwork principle is quite as 
applicable to the problems of peace time as to the problems of war. If 
the State of Illinois has learned this from the experience of the State 
Council of Defense, then the greatest achievement of the Council is 
yet to be realized. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Samuel Insull, 

Chairman. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE OF ILLINOIS 



ORIGIN AND ORGANIZATION 

The State Council of Defense of Illinois came into existence by act 
of the Illinois General Assembly as a part of the national program for 
carrying on the war, and simultaneously with national preparation for 
war. 

On April 2, 1917, the Congress of the United States was assembled 
in extraordinary session and addressed by the President, who asked 
the Congress to declare that a state of war existed between the United 
States and Germany. A joint resolution to that effect was adopted by 
the Senate of the United States on April 4, 1917, and by the House of 
Representatives of the United States on April 6, 1917. On that same 
day — April 6, 1917 — the President issued a proclamation giving effect 
to the joint resolution of the Congress. 

By an act of Congress passed on August 29, 1916, the Council of 
National Defense had been created to organize and mobilize the 
resources of the country for effective utilization in case of war. This 
body was composed of the following members of the Cabinet of the 
President of the United States: The Secretary of War, Chairman; the 
Secretary of the Navy; the Secretary of the Interior; the Secretary of 
Agriculture; the Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of Labor. 

On April 9, 1917, the Secretary of War, as Chairman of the Council 
of National Defense, wrote to the governors of all the states asking 
for the creation of state councils of defense to work with and under the 
direction of the Council of National Defense. A few days later the 
Chairman of the Council of National Defense called a conference of 
representative citizens, one from each state, to be appointed by the 
governor, to meet in Washington, D. C, on May 2 and 3, 1917. The 
purpose of this conference was to consider the war needs of the nation 
and to promote the formation of state councils of defense for co-operat- 
ing with and executing the plans of the Council of National Defense. 
The Illinois representative in this conference was later appointed chair- 
man of the State Council of Defense of Illinois. 

Powers and Duties of State Council 

The Act of the General Assembly of Illinois creating the State 
Council of Defense was passed and approved by the Governor on May 
2, 1917. (See Appendix I.) Briefly, the duties of the Council as 
prescribed by the Act, were the following : 

1 — To co-operate with and assist the Council of National Defense in the 
performance of all its duties, then existing or afterwards imposed. 

7 



is STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

2 — To co-operate with councils of defense of other states. 

3 — To carry out within lUinois such plans of national defense as might be 

mutually agreed upon by the Council and the Council of National 

Defense. 
4 — To recommend to the Governor and the General Assembly laws necessary 

to the common defense of the public welfare. 

To fulfill the obligations imposed by the Act, the Council was given 
the following powers : 

1 — To adopt rules for its internal government and procedure. 

2 — To form advisory and other committees outside its own membership. 

3 — To organize subordinate bodies for assistance in special investigations. 

4 — To appoint necessary experts, stenographers, clerks, etc. 

5 — To make investigations of all questions directly or indirectly relating to 
the duties or powers vested in the Council, and to that end to subpoena 
witnesses and require their testimony, and compel the production of 
books, papers or documents relevant to any investigation. 

The Act further provided that all officers, departments, institutions 
and agencies of the state government, and all local and municipal 
officers of the state, must render the Council such aid and assistance as 
it might require; and in the event of any witness refusing to testify or 
produce books, papers, etc., such person could be punished for contempt 
by any circuit court in the state. (See Appendix I) 

Qualifications of Members 

The Act further provided that the Governor should designate the 
chairman of the State Council of Defense, and should appoint the mem- 
bers of the Council "with reference to their special knowledge of labor, 
industries, public utilities, the development of natural resources, sani- 
tation, finance, transportation, or some other subject matter relating to 
national or state defense." (See Appendix 1). In accordance with 
this provision, the Governor appointed the members of the State 
Council of Defense "for the duration of the war in which the United 
States is now engaged, and no longer," 

The Act further provided that members of the Council should serve 
without pay, but that actual expenses might be allowed. No expense 
account was ever submitted by any member of the Council. 

The harmony of purpose and action which was characteristic of 
the State Council of Defense of Illinois throughout its existence is 
worthy of mention at this point. As indicated by its personnel, the 
Council represented interests the most diverse. It had to deal with 
questions of the most complex character — questions on which men of 
the kind embraced in the Council's membership are sometimes sharply 
divided. Yet from its first meeting to its last, action by the Council 
was always unanimous. There were differences of opinions at times 
but, when subjects before the Council had been fully aired in discussion, 
the policy to be followed or the action to be taken was always declared 
by unanimous vote. 

All of the members of the Council appointed by the Governor in 
the first instance served to the end, with one exception. The circle was 
broken on October 13, 1918, by the death of Mr. John P. Hopkins, the 
Council's Secretary and one of its most active and hard-working mem- 
bers. (See Appendix II.) 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



Council Organized for Work 



The first meeting of the Council was held at Springfield, on May 8, 
1917, in the office of the Governor. An office of the Council was estab- 
lished at the State Capitol, but it was provided that meetings might be 
held elsewhere to serve the convenience of a majority of the members. 

At this first meeting of the Council, a committee of five (5) was 
named to draft rules to govern the proceedings of the Council, and to 
name standing committees among which the work of the Council should 
be apportioned. The report of that committee was made and adopted 
at the next meeting of the Council, which was held in the office of the 
Chairman, in Chicago, May 12, 1917. (See Appendix III.) 

It became evident at these first meetings of the Council that an 
executive and working organization of considerable size would have 
to be built up for the Council's purposes, although the proportions of 
the task were not even then fully realized. Hence provision was made 
in the Rules for an Assistant Secretary to handle office organization, 
and for other necessary assistance, and after two meetings at the 
office of the Chairman, in Chicago, permanent headquarters were 
established at 120 West Adams Street, Chicago. The use of the build- 
ing at that number — equipped, heated, lighted and maintained — ivas 
offered to the Council zvithout expense, and the offer was accepted. 
The first meeting of the Council at 120 West Adams Street was held 
on May 26, 1917; and thereafter that place became the center of the 
activities of the Council, as well as of many of the activities of the 
federal government. The entire building of six floors was occupied by 
men and women engaged in war work under the direction of the State 
Council or of the federal government, virtually all of whom, except 
clerks and stenographers, were volunteers, working without pay. 

Office space requirements for the Council's work, or work done in 
co-operation with it, eventually overflowed the capacity of the building 
at 120 West Adams Street. These additional requirements were pro- 
vided mostly at 72 West Adams Street, and some at 112 West Adams 
Street — also without cost to the Council. 



11. 

SETTING UP COUNCIL MACHINERY 

Early in its experience, the Council learned that it would have to 
undertake a multitude of tasks of great variety, and that, to fulfill the 
obligations imposed by the Act creating it, the method of procedure 
would have to be fitted to the end sought. Therefore, from the begin- 
ning it was both desirable and essential for the Council to deal with cer- 
tain matters as a body; to refer others to its standing committees for 
action or investigation ; and to organize, outside its own membership, 
active or advisory committees either to initiate or to carry out definite 
projects, or to investigate and advise the Council on the proper course 
to pursue in specific instances. 

Upon this basis the Council undertook to organize Illinois for the 
state's part in the war. That process of organization was carried into 
every county, and was added to whenever a new task was set or a new 
request was made by the national government. In general, however, 
Illinois was organized under the Council, or in co-operation with it, to 
meet the obligations of the war in good spirit, however onerous they 
might become, and to make, with fortitude and determination, the 
sacrifices war might impose. 

In effecting this organization the Council did not hesitate to ask 
service of any one, man or woman, qualified to do the particular thing 
which needed to be done. And in behalf of the public at large the 
Council desires to report that responses to its requests were almost 
universal and were made with alacrity and willingness which could 
come only from sound and steadfast loyalty. 

Auxiliaries of Three Classes 

The Committees, boards and the like, organized by the Council may 
be roughly separated into three classes : ( 1 ) organizations of a state- 
wide character, with local bodies in each county or smaller community ; 
(2) organizations which did state-wide and continuing work, through 
a central organization only; (3) bodies created to do particular and 
specific things, or which were wholly advisory. 

In forming these organizations the Council, whenever possible, 

recognized and incorporated within its own organizations, or worked 

with, all such bodies, committees and the like which were already in 

existence. j...:,: ii:^!- i j'S 

Central Plus Local Bodies 

In the first class of Council Committees, which not only did state- 
wide work but which had either county or community local sub-divi- 
sions, or both, were the following: 

The Woman's Committee — Represented and directed, under the supervision 
of astanding committee of the Council, a federation for war purposes of prac- 

10 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 11 

tically all women's organizations in the state. It had a central organization 
eventually of twenty-two departments, with count}' and community (and in some 
cities ward and precinct) subdivisions. This committee was identical in organi- 
zation, membership and work with the Illinois Division of the Woman's Com- 
mittee of the Council of National Defense. 

The Publicity Committee — Was a standing committee of the Council direct- 
ing a local publicity committee in each county composed of a chairman and local 
newspaper publishers, with a foreign language publicity committee in Cook 
County. Its work was, fundamentally, two-fold: (1) to stimulate, facilitate 
and hasten the war tasks of the United States Government and the State of 
Illinois by familiarizing the body of the people, through publicity, with the 
nature of those tasks, the reason why of each, and the purpose served by each ; 
and (2) to keep the public informed on results achieved. To this end, the com- 
mittee worked with all other organizations that were under the Council's direc- 
tion or that co-operated with it. 

Food Production atid Conservation Conwiittee — Was a standing committee 
of the Council directing local organizations by Counties in the promotion of in- 
creased food production and conservation. 

Neighborhood Committee — Had a central organization with county and 
community (in Cook County, exemption district) subdivisions. Its primary 
function was the promotion of patriotic thought and action. 

Counties Auxiliary — Had a central organization with county subdivisions ; 
was the agency employed by the Council for carrying on any particular piece of 
work, state-wide or local, not otherwise provided for. 

Cook County Auxiliary Committee — Had a central organization with exemp- 
tion district subdivisions. Functions were identical with those of Counties 
Auxiliary, but relating only to Cook County. 

County Executive Committees — Organized by counties only, each committee 
representing a federation of all war work bodies of the county in the interest of 
co-operative and co-ordinated effort. Had no central organization; reported 
direct to the Council. 

County Finance Committees — Organized by counties onlj', to sj^stematize and 
co-ordinate collection of funds for war work, local, state, or national; had no 
central organization. 

Highzi'ays Transport Committee — Organized by districts and divisions to 
promote use of public roads to supplement and relieve rail transportation. 

Commercial Economy Administration — Organized in municipalities through- 
out the state, by trades chiefly, for the purpose of systematically reducing expense 
and thus turning into other channels both money and man power. 

Non-War Construction Bureau — At time of disbanding (after 2 months 
work) organized in over eighty counties of state, for the purpose of eliminating 
all unnecessary construction, and as a consequence turning over to war purposes 
railroad equipment, construction materials of all sorts, and labor. 

Central Bodies Only 

Organizations of the Council which fell in the second class, that is 
to say, those which did state-wide and continuing work, through a 
central organization (although a few had local branches for particular 
work) were the following: 

War Recreation Board of Illinois 

Educational Committee 

Advisory Committee of the Electrical Industry 

Committee on Engineering and Inventions 

License Committee 

Public Service Reserve Committee. 

Civilian Personnel Committee 

Intelligence Committee 

Social Hygiene Committee 



12 state council of defense 

For Special Service 

In the third class, organizations which came into existence either to 
do a special thing or to advise the Council upon a particular subject, 
were the following: 

Committee on Coal Production and Distribution 

Committee on Fuel for Public and Quasi-Public Institutions. 

Committee on Fuel for Electrical Industries 

Home Registration Service Committee 

Committee on Spyglasses, Binoculars and Telescopes 

Advisory Committee of the Committee on Sanitation, Medicine and 

Public Health 
Advisory Committee on Dentistry. 
Patriotic Food Show Committee 
Committee on enlargement of Great Lakes Naval Training Station and 

completion of winter accommodations at Fort Sheridan 
Chicago Committee on Illinois Centennial 
U. S. Government War Exposition Committee. 

These committees were not created all at one time, but were organ- 
ized from time to time, as the occasion required or tasks of the Council 
demanded. 

It was the policy of the Council to develop and maintain a flexible, 
efficient organization, capable of dealing with any need which might 
arise within the state, or of meeting any obligation laid upon it by the 
national government. While no exact census of the men and women 
acting under and virtually taking orders from the Council was ever 
taken, it is estimated that through its central and local organizations, 
the Council directed and controlled the war work of an army numbering 
well above 50,000 people, in the down-state counties, and 30,000 more 
in Cook County, or 80,000 in all ; and through the Woman's Committee, 
more than 300,000 more. 

In the Interest of Team Work 

The foregoing committees and organizations were directly under and 
wholly controlled by the Council. All of their activity was closely co- 
ordinated. Their executive representatives met weekly with the Chair- 
man of the Council and in these conferences the purpose and problems 
and new undertakings of each were considered. The effect of this was 
the utmost possible degree of harmonious and co-operative effort. 

In addition to its own organization, the Council maintained close 
and friendly relations with all recognized official, quasi-official and 
philanthropic organizations of national scope through both its central 
and local bodies. It gave to such organizations all the aid and support 
possible, housing some of them, and in a great many instances officials 
of central or local Council bodies served also as state or local officials of 
such national bodies as the Fuel Administration, the Red Cross, and 
Liberty Loan Committees. The branches of the national service and 
the national relief organizations with which the Council co-operated in 
this way were the following : 

American Red Cross 

Army Y. M. C. A. 

Salvation Army 

Knights of Columbus . , 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 13 

Jewish Welfare Board. 

Four Minute Men 

United States Fuel Administration 

United States Food Administration 

French Red Cross Commission 

Military Training Camps Association 

Military Entertainment Council of Illinois 

United States Boys' Working Reserve 

Liberty Loan Campaign Committee Seventh Federal Reserve District 

United States War Savings Committee 

American Protective League 

National Security League 

United States War Camp Community Service 

In the interest of co-ordinated effort, periodical conferences were 
held, with the chairman of the Council presiding, in which representa- 
tives of nearly all of the organizations just named participated and in 
which the "one-for-all and all-for-one" spirit was cultivated, so that 
the experience, advice and co-operation of all organizations was drawn 
upon for the particular problems of one organization. 

Help from State Departments 

In many departments of its work the Council had such valuable 
help from various permanent state bodies, departments and insti- 
tutions, and the help so freely given, that it felt it could call upon 
them at any time to perform the special tasks for which they were 
equipped and be sure of a prompt and willing response. The state 
institutions and departments with which the Council specifically co- 
operated were these : 

State Department of Agriculture 
State Department of Education 
University of Illinois 
Illinois Farmers Institute 
State Normal Schools 
High Schools of the State 
Chicago Schools 

Grade Schools of the entire state 
Public Libraries of the entire state 

A ready and willing spirit to help the Council at all times was also 
shown by the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Lewis 
Institute and the Chicago School of Domestic Arts and Sciences, and 
toward them the Council felt as it did toward state institutions, namely, 
that for all war work they could be considered as a part of the Council's 
organization. 

Co-Operation With Other Councils 

Under its authority to co-operate with state councils of defense of 
other states, the Council brought about the establishment of a Confer- 
ence of thirteen Mississippi Valley State Councils, namely: Illinois, 
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The 
Conference was organized originally to consider coal production and 
distribution, but the creation of the United States Fuel Administration 
relieved it of that obligation. It was continued, however, to meet any 



14 3TATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

emergency which might arise, and could be called upon to do anything 
requisite in the area named. The chairman of this council was the 
Chairman of the Conference, and Fred H. Hamill, of Iowa, was 
Secretary. ,; ..- J_^ 

Council's First Purpose 

In effecting its state organization, the Council was controlled by the 
idea that the first and essential purpose to be attained was to get 
co-operation, united effort, in behalf of any and all undertakings of 
the Council and the national government. This applied to food produc- 
tion and conservation as well as to war relief, the practice of thrift and 
economy, and general support of government enterprises and purposes. 

Upon America's entrance into the war, naturally and almost over- 
night — and before an official body could be created by the legis'.ature — 
there came into existence a considerable number of voluntary organiza- 
tions to consolidate patriotism, provide war relief, encourage thrift and 
serve other war purposes. The members of such bodies were enthusias- 
tic and earnest. It would have been a sad error for the Council to have 
arbitrarily dissolved their organizations. Likewise, to have permitted 
the continued operation of a considerable number of unofficial and inde- 
pendent societies, committees and boards would have engendered an 
undesirable rivalry, and have caused much confusion and wasteful 
duplication of effort; also it would have encouraged fraud by the 
unscrupulous and imposition upon the generous. 

Patriotic Work Co-Ordinated 

As a solution of the problem thus presented, the Council undertook 
to assimilate the truly patriotic voluntary organizations. That work 
was most satisfactorily accomplished. Some few organizations formed 
under immature plans and with indefinite aims had to be dissolved. But 
in general the members of voluntary organizations came into the 
Council's organization willingly, and did exceedmgly good work. Thus 
all the war work of the people of Illinois was eventually done under 
the direct supervision of the national government, under the supervision 
of some one of the national relief or philanthropic organizations recog- 
nized by the national government, or under the supervision of the State 
Council of Defense. 

To have brought about this co-ordination and co-operation was re- 
garded by the Council as one of its best achievements. 



III. 

MAKING THE MACHINERY WORK 

Before the Council had any of the organizations named in the pre- 
ceding chapter, except its Publicity Department, and the Woman's 
Committee, and betore co-operation with other bodies had been (or 
could be) effected, it discovered the need of local representation 
throughout the state upon which it could depend for prompt and 
definite action. 

From the outset this Council accepted the requests of the Council 
of National Defense and such other national government departments 
and organizations as tantamount to orders. It undertook to carry out all 
such requests as though they were orders. Also, the Council conceived 
it to be its duty to aid every nationalized war effort, whether conducted 
by official or quasi-otficial organizations ; such things as selling Liberty 
Bonds and War Savmgs Stamps, collecting funds for the Red Cross and 
for all worthy war relief organizations, local, national or international ; 
selling "smileage" books, co-operation with the Food and Fuel Adminis- 
trations, establishing motor truck freight transportation, recruiting 
labor for war industries, aiding in putting the selective service law 
into effect, recruiting for the Marines and special Army services, and 
innumerable other matters of major or minor importance. 

In some instances it was possible for the Council to get results by 
primary action ; in others, special or standing committees were able to 
do the jobs specified ; but in the great majority of cases it required 
organizations reaching into all communities to get effective response 
to official or quasi-official requests — organizations that would take the 
Council's requests as orders and act accordingly. 

County Auxiliary Organization Effected 

To be able to carry the government's as well as its own requests to 
the farthest communities, the Council organized, first, the Counties 
Auxiliary, and then the County Executive and the County Finance 
Committees. The Counties Auxiliary was a central organization with 
a local axuiliary in each county ; the other two were local organizations 
only reporting directly to the Council. 

While the central organization of the Neighborhood Committee 
(described in Chapter AT) was completed first, the Counties Auxiliary 
was undertaken first. Organization of it had to proceed slowly because 
each County Auxiliary was. in effect, the local executive organization 
of the State Council of Defense. Hence its members had to be men and 
women who could be depended upon to "carry on" and "follow 
through" — to work regularly week by week, as the Council itself 
worked. To that end, members of each County Auxiliary were care- 
fully selected. Each one included a representative of labor and a 

15 



16 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

woman, who was always the Chairman of the Woman's Committee of 
the Council for that County. 

As requests came to the State Council from federal government 
departments, or other recognized sources, and as Illinois conditions 
required service of the Council, bulletins were sent to the County 
Auxiliary Committees advising and instructing them, and they were 
depended upon to obtain results and report back to headquarters in 
Chicago. If the County Auxiliary Committee thought it advisable to 
form subordinate sub-committees to facilitate its work, it was at 
liberty to do so. Thus it will be seen the work of the Council permeated 
the state to the smallest hamlets. (See Appendix IV.) 

County Finance Committees Important 

Each County Auxiliary was responsible for financing its own work. 
For this purpose, a strong finance committee in each county was 
requested. Originally this finance committee undertook merely to 
manage the business end of the activities in the county; eventually 
it enlarged its field of operations and practically took over the manage- 
ment of "drives" and the collection of funds for all war relief work, 
with excellent results, co-operating of course with the organization 
seeking financial aid in each instance. The object was never to sub- 
merge organizations already created in the organization of the Council, 
but to work as closely with them and to lend them such co-operation 
as would net the best results. (See Appendix IV.) 

Team Work by Counties Effected 

County Executive Committees were born of necessity plus the 
Council's belief in co-ordination and co-operation. Each County 
Executive Committee was a co-ordinating organization. Its purpose 
was to get the whole community together in behalf of each and every 
undertaking backed by the Council, to prevent duplication of eflfort and 
conflict of authority, and to provide a common meeting ground for all 
the war workers of each county, both federal and state, official and 
quasi-official, for the discussion and determination of plans, means 
and methods for carrying out all war tasks imposed upon the county. 

While the County Auxiliary, County Finance and County Executive 
Committees were organized separately, by intention, the tendency was 
for them all to merge, in eflfect at least, into one body, and to extend 
the organization into townships and school districts. The Neighbor- 
hood Committee was also included in this merging process, and, to a 
degree, practically all other war organizations, so that the performance 
of a war duty in a particular county had behind it the weight and 
energy of all the active war workers of that county. The County 
Executive Committee, in most cases, thus came to be composed of the 
following state and federal organization representatives: The Chair- 
man, labor representative and woman member of the County Auxiliary ; 
the County Chairmen of the Neighborhood, Finance, Food Production 
and Conservation, Publicity and Legal Advisory Committees of the 
State Council of Defense; county representatives of the United States 
Boys' Working Reserve, Liberty Loan Organization, War Savings 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 17 

Committee, Federal Fuel Administration, American Red Cross, Fed- 
eral Food Administration, Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus, etc. (See 
Appendix IV.) 

Cook County Auxiliary an Example 

The Cook County Auxiliary, as perfected early in 1918, illustrated 
conspicuously and concretely why the Council had to devise a scheme of 
organization that would be at once comprehensive and all-inclusive, 
flexibly adjustable to widely varying contingencies, and centralized in 
authority. 

Cook County presented aggravated examples of all problems 
encotmtered down-state, along with others peculiar to itself on account 
of Chicago's large and complex population. Effecting co-ordination 
and co-operation of war activities in Cook County meant co-ordinating 
not only the officially created or officially recognized state and national 
organizations charged with specific functions, but also the multitude 
of aid, relief and other war-purpose agencies which grew up in Chicago 
among the foreign-born, among religious and fraternal organizations, 
among associations of professional men and women and among the 
people generally, by wards, by exemption districts and by neighbor- 
hoods ; also the various organizations for special forms of war-relief to 
the Allies, which were in existence before this country entered the 
war. This problem was solved with a large measure of success. 
Using the exemption district as the basic territorial unit, local war 
work organizations were consolidated or federated in each of the 
county's 95 exemption districts, many of them having permanent head- 
quarters; organizations of larger scope were co-ordinated in the Cook 
County Auxiliary itself. Consequently, Chicago and Cook County 
were blanketed by a complete organization equipped to carry on the 
standard tasks imposed by the war and to undertake special or emer- 
gency work when called upon. (See Appendix V.) 

Results Justified the Methods 

The Council found the general method of dealing with war duties, 
as outlined in the foregoing, to be most effective. A few counties were 
not as closely organized as the Council desired, but in most counties 
results were satisfactory and in many they were most gratifying. 

In the counties which had close organization, the shortness of time 
required to comply with a government request, or to make up quotas 
for loans or war relief, was amazing. Counties so organized which 
required more than a day to subscribe their respective quotas for loans 
or relief apologized for the delay. In these counties the Food Adminis- 
tration, Fuel Administration, Liberty Loan, War Savings, Red Cross, 
and other relief organizations and the State Council organizations were 
all one. What one was asked to do, the inclusive organization got done. 
In all of them virtually the entire populations were signed up to do 
what the government asked, upon notice ; and when a request was for- 
warded, notice was given promptly and the thing was done, almost 
automatically. If there were those who were disloyal, or had reserva- 
tions, they were known ; consequently they kept their disloyalty well 
in hand. 



18 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Efficiency of the Council's organization was strikingly illustrated in 
the latter months of the war. Washington called for two particularly 
unpopular pieces of work: (1) prohibition of all construction work 
not essential to war purposes; (2) conservation of man and money 
power by restricting retail store deliveries, confining Christmas giving 
to "useful" articles, etc. Within thirty days of the call from Washing- 
ton, 89 of the 102 counties had non-war construction boards in opera- 
tion. Within sixty days, the merchants of every town in Illinois of 
2,000 or more inhabitants, including Chicago, were organized and 
voluntarily enforcing the restrictions on their business. 

Speaking for the state in general, the Council desires to report that 
while, naturally, there was not always unanimity of opinion concerning 
this, that or the other request or requirement of the government, yet 
the overwhelming majority of the people of the state, men and women, 
took pride in obeying requests and strictly meeting all requirements. 



IV 
HOW THE COUNCIL WAS FINANCED 

A gratifying feature of the State Council's work was the small cost 
of it in dollars. 

The Act of the Illinois General Assembly creating the Council 
appropriated $50,000 for its expenses. That sum would not have 
paid for the postage stamps used. This small appropriation was in no 
sense due to legislative parsimony, but was due entirely to the utter lack 
of conception, by everybody concerned, of the amount of work the 
Council would be called upon to do. One state council had an appro- 
priation of $5,000,000; others had appropriations of $1,000,000 and 
$2,000,000; many had appropriations of $100,000 or more. 

But the lack of a large appropriation by the Illinois Council was 
perhaps an advantage instead of a handicap; it put the work of the 
Council and of the volunteers who came into its service on a higher 
patriotic plane than could have been reached with abundant funds in 
sight for paying to have the work done. 

The Council was enabled to function chiefly by means of cash con- 
tributions from private citizens and business houses who realized that 
its work was too important to be crippled by lack of money, and con- 
tributed office space, maintenance, light, heat, and other services, which 
were the equivalent of cash, with some assistance from incidental 
profits on legitimate patriotic enterprises, promoted by the Council, 
which did much good in themselves besides helping out the Council's 
treasury. 

Private Interests Help Out 

The activities of the Council quickly outgrew its financial resources. 
In its earlier months scarcely a day passed without a new task imposed 
by the Council of National Defense or by some department of the Fed- 
eral Government, or arising out of some need local to Illinois. The 
Council never stopped to inquire whether its finances would cover the 
expenses inseparable from new activities; if a thing needed to be done 
it was undertaken. 

The executives in all of the regularly functioning departments of 
the Council, as well as all officers and members of all subsidiary and 
auxiliary committees and other bodies worked without pay. Only 
stenographic and clerical help at headquarters and such obvious items 
of expense as printing, postage, telegraph and telephone service, etc., 
had to be paid for. Yet, with all of these items held down to the lowest 
possible limits, the appropriation of $50,000 by the General Assembly 

19 



20 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

was exhausted before March, 1918, and it became necessary to devise 
other ways and means of carrying on activities of the Council. 

The General Assembly would not convene in the natural course of 
events until January, 1919. It was not deemed advisable to ask the 
Governor to call a special session of the General Assembly for the 
single purpose of making additional appropriation for the State Council 
of Defense. After full deliberation and consultation with Governor 
Lowden, it was decided that the necessary funds to keep the Council 
in operation should be sought by private subscription. 

The governor personally placed the situation before a few men in 
March, 1918. At his request, they promptly organized themselves into 
a finance committee and quickly raised and turned over to the Council 
the sum of $100,300, which enabled it to carry on its work without in- 
terruption. 

Unexpected profits from the food show at the Coliseum, amounting 
to approximately $7,500, came in handy while this committee was at 
work. 

Lowest Per Capita Cost 

Counting only cash actually expended, the total cost of the State 
Council of ]3efense was under $189,000. Including with this the contri- 
butions of rent, heat, light and other services, which were the equivalent 
of cash, the cost expressed in dollars was, in round numbers, about 
$275,000. 

But the State of Illinois paid for the State Council of Defense and 
its work only $50,000, the original appropriation in the act creating the 
Council. The population of Illinois, as of July 1, 1918, according to 
the official estimate of the U. S. Census Bureau, was 6,317,734. There- 
fore, the cost of the State Council of Defense, and of all of the work 
done under its direction, to the people of Illinois was a little less than 
seven tenths of one cent per capita; and, counting all of the expenses 
measurable in dollars, the per capita cost was only a little more than 
four cents. This is believed to be the lowest per capita cost of any 
state council in the country that pretended to have an organization and 
to carry on distinctive work in connection with the war. 

The sources from which the Council derived its funds may be 
summed up as follows : 

State Appropriation $ 50,000.00 

Cash Contributions $100,300.00 

Contributions in Rent and Service 86,090.40 

Incidental Profits on Patriotic Enterprises Promoted by the 
Council 44,840.55 

The details of Council finances are set forth in the financial state- 
ment submitted herewith. (See Appendix VI.) 

This brings up a fact believed to be unique in the histories of all 
state councils of defense. This Council would have been literally 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 21 

a money-making institution for the State of Illinois if it could 
have kept all the money it made on enterprises undertaken without 
Jntent to earn a profit. It made $7,500.00 out of a Patriotic Food 
Show, and $3,400.00 out of a Cook Book prepared for that show, 
which was distributed at a nominal cost all over the world. But the 
Council's largest profits were turned back into the United States 
Treasury ; more than $300,000 from the War Exposition on the 
Lake Front in Chicago which under the law had to be turned over to 
the Committee on Public Information; $142,000 profit on the Seed 
Corn Campaign, which had to be turned over to the United States 
Department of Agriculture. Had the Council been able to keep all it 
made, it would have paid expenses without "passing the hat," and 
would have had more than a quarter of a million dollars to turn into 
the state treasury. 



V 
WOMEN: THE COUNCIL'S RIGHT ARM 

First in importance among the organizations subordinate to the 
Council was the Woman's Committee. It was organized immediately 
upon the creation of the Council, and had an important part in almost 
every activity and undertaking of the Council and of the Council of 
National Defense, with which it was directly affiliated as the Illinois 
Division, Woman's Committee, Council of National Defense. 

In October, 1918, the Woman's Committee of the Council of 
National Defense was merged with the Field Division of the Council 
of National Defense. This caused no interruption or confusion in 
women's war work in Illinois because, from the first, the Illinois Divi- 
sion of the merged national Woman's Committee had been identical in 
organization, membership and activity with the State Council Woman's 
Committee — thanks to the foresight of the latter body's officers. 

Women's Organization Comprehensive 

The direct and collateral membership and influence of the Woman's 
Committee was tremendous. It included all the members of virtually 
all the women's organizations of the state, for when the call came 
for women to help win the war all these organizations unanimously 
volunteered. 

These women's organizations were federated under the Woman's 

Committee through an advisory committee, composed of a city (Chi- 
cago) committee and a state council which numbered 54 in the begin- 
ning and eventually had 96 members. This advisory committee met 
once a month at State Council headquarters with the Executive Com- 
mittee of the Woman's Committee. Allowing for inactivity by one- 
third of the membership of these federated organizations, (and that 
is believed to be a liberal estimate) there remained an active working 
force of more than 300,000 women under the direction of the 
Woman's Committee. 

In addition, a number of women's organizations were created 
especially for war work, all of which were affiliated with the Woman's 
Committee. Further than that, the women of Illinois were canvassed 
to register for war purposes, to pledge themselves for whatever service 
they might be called upon to render, and there were in the files of the 
Woman's Committee the signed pledges of 698,584 women. 

Purpose of the Woman's Committee 

The purpose of the Woman's Committee, the task it set for itself, 
was this : "To give every woman in Illinois an opportunity for patriotic 
service at home or abroad and incidentally to be an inspirational center 
for the entire state." 

22 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 23 

To promote efficiency in the execution of this broad program, to 
prevent duplication of effort and to utilize, by co-operation and co- 
ordination, organizations already in existence, the specific activities of 
the Woman's Committee were organized, systematized and carried 
on through twenty-two departments of endeavor. The names of these 
departments indicate the range of activity, as follows : Organization, 
Finance, War Information, Publicity, Speakers, Registration, Volun- 
teer Placement and Filing (to utilize registration), Motor Corps, 
Courses of Instruction, Employment, Illinois Training Farm, Food 
Production, Thrift and Conservation (including food and fuel conserva- 
tion), Child Welfare, Women and Children in Industry, Social Service, 
Social Hygiene, Recreation for Girls, Liberty Chorus and Community 
Singing, Americanization, Allied Relief, and Liberty Loan. 

For keeping in touch with its members and guiding their participa- 
tion in war-winning enterprises, the Woman's Committee perfected 
its organization by counties and then carried it right down through 
the county, wherever possible, to the city and township unit — in many 
communities to school district and voting precinct units. There were 
2,136 of these local units working for the Woman's Committee at 
State Council headquarters. The chairmen of the local units and 
their departmental officers numbered 7,700 — each one of them an 
executive directing the war-winning efforts of many other women. 

Under this guidance, women who had never found an interest out- 
side of their homes and their limited social spheres learned to seek 
service for the sake of the service itself — community service and serv- 
ice to their country. Hence it was that women for the first time 
dropped lines of social demarcation and prejudice against those of 
different creed, race, religion, color and convictions, and worked with 
them for one big absorbing cause — the winning of the war. 

The Woman's Committee in a large measure, financed itself, but 
received some help from the Council, particularly in the matter of 
necessary printing. 

Peaks of Achievement 

In every phase of war work, the Woman's Committee was helpful, 
but its chief value, according to its own estimate, lay in maintaining 
what might be called "home morale." The Committee took this for its 
special field. It concerned itself with the need of the hour, whatever 
that need was — the raising of money, selling of bonds and savings 
stamps, assisting in the various "drives," the production of food, the 
conservation of food, fuel and clothing, the making of knitted gar- 
ments, surgical dressings and refugee clothing, and so on. 

The Woman's Committee definitely registered women for war 
service, placed them in volunteer service and found paid positions for 
those who had to be self-supporting. It stimulated the support of 
social work throughout the state and organized, in connection with the 
"Children's Year," a thorough campaign for child welfare. Girls and 
young women were organized into patriotic service leagues to provide 
them with wholesome organized recreation and at the same time give 
them an opportunity to render war service. Classes for teaching 
English were organized among the foreign born. Community singing 



24 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

was organized. Courses of instruction for women anxious to do war 
work and to take the places of men called to war were carried on. An 
experimental training farm was operated. Working conditions of 
women and children were watched. In other words, the problems of 
food, morals, health, education, recreation, citizenship and enlargement 
of social and industrial democracy for women and children workers 
became largely the work of the women of the state, organized under 
the Woman's Committee. 

A Record that Makes a Book 

The activities of the Committee were adapted to keeping the people 
of every community up to the mark in all matters of patriotism, of 
war aid and relief, and in observance of all rules and requirements of 
the national government made necessary by war conditions. Through 
its wide and inclusive membership, the Woman's Committee was of 
incalculable value in behalf of all conservation measures ; in the sale of 
Liberty Bonds ; in getting money for the Red Cross, and all other war 
aid and relief agencies; in promoting child welfare, and in finding 
employment for women forced to become self-supporting by the war 
as well as in finding women to take men's places in industrial employ- 
ment in order to release men either for essential war work or for 
service in the Army or Navy. 

The scope and definite character of Woman's Committee under- 
takings and achievements were extraordinary, particularly in respect to 
registration, educational and research effort and to the organizing 
that had to precede result-getting. It was a revelation to anyone who 
might have thought that women were not yet schooled to attack and 
to cope with the dry, grinding details out of which results are 
constructed. 

The record of it all, as carried through by the twenty-two depart- 
ments into which Woman's Committee activities were divided, makes a 
volume in itself. That record is being published separately and is 
also on file in the records of the State Council. One must look there 
for the complete story of the Woman's Committee work and for the 
details which reflect the vital character and the deep human significance 
of it; but a comprehensive summary of the record is included in this 
report. (See report of the Woman's Committee, Appendix VII.) 



VI 

WAKING UP ILLINOIS 

In one aspect, this is the most important chapter in the history of 
the State Council of Defense of Illinois. 

When the Council came into existence, its most patent and pressing 
obligation — an obligation particularly imposed upon it by the creating 
Act — seemed to be the development of a civilian morale which would 
insure to the nation the full and willing co-operation of Illinois in all 
measures required for the successful prosecution of the war. The state 
has a polyglot population and a multitude of interests. At the time 
America entered upon the war, the war spirit of the people had not 
been aroused fully ; essential war duties and sacrifices were not clearly 
sensed. Sedition or disloyalty was not general, but there was, to 
phrase it mildly, considerable indifference and hesitancy in personal 
attitude toward the war. 

The Council undertook to arouse the spirit of the people, to make 
known the causes of the war, the inevitability of this country's partici- 
pation in it, and the necessity for an agressive, solidified patriotism to 
win. In this it followed the lead of Governor Lowden. 

To carry on this campaign to awaken the public to the actualities of 
a time of war, the Council employed a variety of methods. Chief 
among them were the public press, mass meetings and community 
gatherings, the distribution of patriotic literature and the employment 
of community, county and state leaders in thought and action in the 
performance of specific patriotic tasks. 

Publicity Department Established 

Immediately upon its organization, the Council established a Pub- 
licity Department. Later, the central Publicity Department was sup- 
plemented by publicity committees throughout the state, which became 
in most counties active, effective bodies in the maintenance of com- 
munity morale. 

As soon as established, the Publicity Department began a news and 
editorial service for all the daily and weekly newspapers of the state. 
There was a three- fold purpose in this : First, to enlist as active propa- 
gandists in the American cause the editors of the state ; second, to 
disseminate information on the state's part in the war, to advise the 
public on progress of the nation's war preparations, to bring home to 
the people the individual duties and the service required of each, and 
to prepare them for the inevitable sacrifices of Avar ; third, to interpret 
to the public, day by day and week by week, the functions, purposes and 
efforts of the State Council of Defense as a means of insuring prompt 
and effective public response to the Council's undertakings. 



26 state council of defense 

Service to Newspapers Begun 

To this end, the PubHcity Department undertook the task — and a 
heavy task it was — of sifting, editing and, as it were, "pre-digesting" 
the pubHcity material sent out by the many departments and activities 
of the national government, and by the Liberty Loan, Red Cross, and 
all other organizations which were seeking public attention for one 
purpose or another. This tremendous mass of material was boiled 
down to the limits which would render it usable in the great majority 
of Illinois newspapers, and particularly the weekly newspapers, which 
reach a very large part of the population that can be reached by no 
other medium. As a consequence, the newspapers of the state came 
to depend upon the State Council's publicity service to such an extent 
that, during the last year of the war, the greater part of all war 
propaganda published in Illinois, no matter where it originated, was 
material that had gone through the Council's "condensing laboratory." 
(See Appendix VIII) 

On November 30, 1917, the Publicity Department also inaugurated 
publication of the "State Council News." This was a small, four-page, 
weekly publication which served as the official bulletin of the State 
Council. It was sent to the executives and active workers of all sub- 
sidiary Committees of the Council. The purpose of it was to keep 
these workers in close touch with headquarters, and, by helpful sug- 
gestion and inspiration, direct them in their work. It is believed that 
the little paper well served its purpose. 

Splendid Response by Newspapers 

There are something less than a thousand editors in the state, whose 
papers are printed in English. Their response to the appeal of the 
Council was spontaneous and virtually unanimous. Most of them were 
already committed to the war, and overnight the whole body in effect 
enrolled as American propagandists. From the beginning they gave 
the Council the most valuable possible help in carrying out all requests 
of the national government, in heartening the people to bear the bur- 
dens of the war, in fortifying the courage of the public, and in discour- 
aging all forms of disloyalty and combating enemy propaganda. When 
these editors enlisted, it was for the duration of the war. They con- 
tinued their patriotic efforts to the end with unabated zeal, giving their 
space generously in behalf of every undertaking of the government, 
and day by day and week by week exhorting the whole citizenship of the 
state to increased effort and unwavering support of the Allied cause. 
The service they rendered the state and the nation was of inestimable 
value, and the Council would have had great difficulty in performing 
its duties without their aid. 

Illinois and particularly Chicago, has an unusually large number of 
papers printed in foreign languages. In the mass, these too, were help- 
ful in building up and maintaining the morale of the foreign-born. 
Most of the editors of these papers were just as enthusiastic and as 
highly deserved public confidence and gratitude as the editors of papers 
printed in English. 



state council of defense 27 

Making a New Fourth of July 

The earliest considerable effort of the Council to arouse the spirit 
of the public through public meetings was when it urged universal 
and serious observance of the Fourth of July, 1917. As the Council 
was then without local organizations of its own, it called upon the press, 
the clergy, fraternal organizations, labor organizations, nationalistic 
societies, the mayors of cities, towns and villages, and various civic and 
commercial bodies throughout the state to help promote the undertak- 
ing. The repsonse to that request was gratifying. In a great majority 
of the communities of the state, — cities, towns, villages and school 
districts — observance of the day included addresses upon the causes of 
the war and the duties of citizenship in a time of war. One of the 
Council's suggestions was that a religious service be held in each church 
in the state ; it was almost universally adopted by clergymen of all 
faiths, thus giving a devotional character to the observance of the day 
everywhere, such as it probably never had had — certainly not since the 
earlier years of the Republic. 

In 1918, the Council got an earlier start on the Fourth of July 
observance. Every subordinate body throughout the state was officially 
bulletined to celebrate the Fourth, and the character of the celebration 
desired was outlined. The consequence was that the nation's birth- 
day was celebrated that year as never before in the history of the state, 
and celebrated, as never before, in a manner to emphasize the high 
significance of the occasion. Participation by the foreign-born was a 
marked feature of the day, particularly in Chicago, and in other cities 
where the foreign-born colonies were large. Under the general direc- 
tion of the Cook County Auxiliary of the Council, approximately one 
hundred celebrations, all of them broadly patriotic and inspiringly 
American in character, took place. 

The permanence of this effort by the Council to give the Fourth of 
July a new character is indicated by the preparations in progress as this 
is written for celebration of the national anniversary in 1919. The 
patriotically educational and Americanizing character of last year's 
celebration is being continued and extended in the preparations for 
this year in Chicago and throughout the state. The Council likes to 
believe that it has done something toward changing the annual observ- 
ance of the Fourth of July from an occasion of noise, frivolity and dis- 
sipation to one of high patriotic significance. 

Neighborhood Committee Started 

In the early days of its efforts, the Council was convinced that 
there was serious need to bring the war closer to the people and to 
spread a right understanding of its causes by word of mouth, as well 
as by every other available method ; newspaper publicity alone was 
insufficient. 

When the Great War started in Europe, there were in the United 
States, as was natural in a population composed of many nationalities, 
almost as great a variety of opinions on the subject as there were 
languages to express them. Though ours was classed amongst the 



28 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

neutral countries, it was next to impossible to keep people from "taking 
sides." 

When this country was finally forced into the war, there were still, 
although in the minority, many citizens who clung to their original 
views on the war, who were opposed to our taking part in it, and who 
contended that the Central Powers were justified in loosing war upon 
the world. Some, if not much, of this feeling antagonistic to the aims 
and purposes of the allied nations and of the United States was due to 
lack of a clear understanding of the situation. 

At the meeting of the Council on August 7, 1917, the suggestion was 
received from Governor Lowden that the Council arrange a series of 
public meetings "for the purpose of educating the people of the state 
with reference to the various subjects in connection with the war," and 
the Chairman was given authority to proceed. At the next meeting of 
the Council, August 16, 1917, a resolution by Mr. Victor A. Olander 
was adopted, which provided that "the Publicity Committee develop a 
plan for enlisting volunteers among patriotic citizens to organize and 
address patriotic neighborhood meetings in every community of Illinois 
for the purpose of arousing the people to appreciation of the ideals of 
true patriotism and love of country ; that such meetings, wherever pos- 
sible, should be held in school houses and other public buildings under 
the supervision of local neighborhood committees reporting to and 
acting under the guidance of central, city, or county committees 
appointed by the State Council of Defense ; and that such committees 
should be representative of all classes of citizens in such city or 
county." 

Pursuant to Mr. dander's resolution, a meeting of representative 
citizens of all nationalities was held on August 22, 1917, in the State 
Council's assembly room, and said meeting proceeded to organize under 
a resolution offered by Mr. Wm. G. Beale, which provided for "union 
of the loyal people of Illinois into one general, patriotic campaign under 
the State Council of Defense, in order to help our country and to secure 
a just and lasting peace for all nations" ; the campaign to be participated 
in "by all men and women who are willing to pledge their whole- 
hearted support to our Government." 

This action was approved by the Council on August 28, 1917, and 
the Council's Publicity Committee was directed to build the necessary 
organization, to be known as "The State Council of Defense Neighbor- 
hood Committee." (For details of Neighborhood Committee organiza- 
tion and efifort, see Appendix IV) 

How Neighborhood Committee Grew 

The Neighborhood Committee idea was similar to (and perhaps 
it inspired) the community council idea later urged upon state councils 
by the Council of National Defense. The Committee was organized 
and in operation by mid-September, 1917. Its basic program was to 
promote patriotic discussion of the war literally by neighborhoods, to 
enlist the enthusiasm of the intensely patriotic in arousing the spirit 
of the less ardent, to deal individually with the openly or slyly disloyal. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 29 

and to concentrate the energies of each community of the state upon the 
task of winning the war, whatever the ramifications of that task 
might be. 

The Neighborhood Committee served that purpose well. As soon 
as a central organization was completed, the organization of local 
committees by counties and cities and then by neighborhoods, was 
begun, and carried into the furthermost corners of the state. In many 
counties there were from fifteen to thirty separate Neighborhood Com- 
mittees, and in Cook County there were from one to three or more such 
committees in each of the ninety-five local exemption districts. The 
members of these committees were persistently and consistently pro- 
moters of a proper war spirit and inspirers of civilian morale. They 
took the lead in war work, in providing war aid and relief, in Ameri- 
canizing the foreign-bom, in combating enemy propaganda, and in dis- 
tributing patriotic literature. 

Innumerable meetings were held under the direction of the general 
and local Neighborhood Committees — in public buildings, in school 
houses, in churches, in private homes. In some localities, meetings 
w€re held at regular periods; in others they were held as occasion 
required. In general, these meetings were addressed by local speakers 
— men who knew the individuals of their audiences — neighbor talking 
to neighbor. 

The central organization of the Neighborhood Committee also 
found the distribution of patriotic literature to be essential to its work, 
and established a document department which sent to individuals and 
local organizations more than 222,000 pamphlets on the war. Some 
of these were printed by the Council, but mostly they were furnished 
by the Committee on Public Information at Washington. 

Speakers Bureau Found Necessary 

The central organization of the Neighborhood Committee was soon 
forced to establish a speakers bureau to provide for larger gatherings 
than neighborhood meetings. Its organization was called upon to help 
Liberty Loan, Red Cross and all other drives. Chautauqua associa- 
tions and managers co-operated with it and drew upon its resources. 

When the Committee's activities ceased, it had assigned approxi- 
mately 500 speakers to 6,690 public meetings. These speakers were of 
varied types — French soldiers and British soldiers and American 
soldiers, priests and ministers, lawyers and laymen and public officials 
of the state and of the nation, foreigners and native-born. In the 
latter months of the war particularly, many American soldiers who had 
been at the front were sent out, especially to large industrial plants to 
talk to workmen in the noon hour. 

The co-ordination principle to which the Council held so steadfastly 
eventually led, in October, 1918, to amalgamation of the Neighborhood 
Committee's speakers bureau with the speakers bureaus of 25 other 
war work organizations, as the Unified Bureavi of Public Speakers 
of the State Council of Defense. 

Had the war continued into 1919, as expected, the Unified Bureau 
of Public Speakers, an outgrowth of Neighborhood Committee Work, 



30 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

would have been serving practically all platform propaganda needs in 
Illinois, in behalf of every war purpose. When war activities ceased, 
the organization of the Unified Bureau of Public Speakers was turned 
over to the speakers bureau of the Woman's Committee. (See Appen- 
dix IX) 

Four Minute Men Started Here 

An organization which rendered a very great service in "waking 
up Illinois" (and the whole nation), and in arousing people every- 
where to the duties and obligations of war-time, was the Four Minute 
Men. 

Strictly speaking, this was not a Council organization ; but the 
Council gave it the aid, encouragement and fostering care in its 
incipiency, without which it might never have been able to grow to the 
proportions it attained or to take so large a place in the war work of 
America. 

The idea of the Four Minute Men organization was an Illinois idea. 
Donald M. Ryerson, of Chicago, conceived it, and just before America 
got into the war brought it to the attention of several persons who 
became, later, members of this Council. With their encouragement, the 
idea was tried out in Chicago. The idea was for a selected organiza- 
tion of speakers, all doing team work by speaking on the same subject 
at the same time, who would address ready-made audiences at the 
motion-picture theatres (also at regular theatres, and elsewhere) upon 
the immediate need of the hour. This required co-operation by the 
managers of motion-picture houses and places where audiences might 
be gathered, and it was through the efforts made to try out the idea 
in Chicago that such co-operation was attained. 

Four Minute Men Nationalized 

As soon as this Council was organized, official recognition was 
given to the Four Minute Men. The idea was tried out and from the 
first was successful. Upon the suggestion of the Council it was offered 
to the national government, was immediately accepted, and under the 
general direction of the Committee on Public Information, the Four 
Minute Men became a national institution with divisions in each state. 

Nationalization of the Four Minute Men did not cause any sever- 
ance of relations with the Council. The Council housed, aided and 
encouraged the Illinois Division throughout its existence, and the Four 
Minute Men reciprocated. 

There was a remarkable growth of the organization in this state.- 
When the armistice was signed, it had about 2,000 speakers on its 
lists, who addressed, upon an average, about 700,000 people a week. 
In every campaign in behalf of the government, the work of the organi- 
zation was most effective — whether that campaign was for selling 
bonds, collecting funds for the Red Cross, arousing interest in the 
ship-building program or combating German propaganda. Hence, the 
Council takes pride in the fact that it was the first official body to 
give encouragement to the idea and to lead in the promotion of the 



STATE COUNCIL OP DEFENSE 31 

work the Four Minute Men organization has done (For additional 
details on the Illinois Division of the Four Minute Men, see Appendix 
X). 

Lake Front Demonstration "Demonstrates" 

The first conspicuous achievement of the Neighborhood Committee 
in promoting aggressive patriotic thought and action was the mass 
meeting and Lake Front demonstration on Sunday afternoon, October 
21, 1917, in Chicago. After that occasion, the most skeptical ceased to 
harbor a thought of any serious deflection of public sentiment in Illi- 
nois away from hearty support of the nation's war purposes and war 
plans. The Auditorium theatre was completely filled and there was an 
overflow meeting in Grant Park of 250,000 people. The Auditorium 
gathering was addressed by Governor Lowden, Hon. Henry T. Rainey, 
M. C, and Hon. Clarence Darrow, and the invocation was by the Most 
Rev. George W. Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago. Entertainment 
for the out-door audience was provided by the Great Lakes Naval 
Training Station band led by Lieut. John Philip Sousa, and by maneuv- 
ers by uniformed regiments of sailors from Great Lakes, of the Illinois 
National Guard and of the Illinois Reserve Militia. Groups of the 
great out-door gathering were addressed by Former Governors Charles 
S. Deneen and Edward F. Dunne and a dozen others. 

Patriotic co-operation by the Cook County organizations of the 
two major political parties deserves special mention here. The officers 
and leaders of both Republican and Democratic county committees 
took hold of the Lake Front demonstration project as if it were their 
own and, working through their ward and precinct organizations, they 
contributed much to the success of the occasion. Similar co-operation 
was extended by these organizations on other occasions, including 
systematic preparation for worthy celebration of the Fourth of July. 

Other Notable Patriotic Events 

The Council also promoted, either directly or through a subordinate 
agency, many gatherings, conferences and meetings of a purely patriotic 
character, including the following as the most noteworthy : 

Congressional Conference — A conference which took place in Chicago, 
November 28th, 1917, to which were invited the two senators and all members of 
Congress from Illinois and also all state officers. It was a frank, heart-to-heart 
talk among public ofiicials on Illinois in the war, with a great mass meeting at 
Medinah Temple in the evening, which was addressed by Senators Lawrence Y. 
Sherman and James Hamilton Lewis and Hon. Henry T. Rainey, M. C. 

Illinois War Conference — A conference of Illinois war workers, which took 
place in Chicago January 14th and 15th, 1918. Notwithstanding that the weather 
was very bad and transportation was largely blocked throughout the state, there 
was a very good attendance from most parts of Illinois. General sessions of 
the conference were addressed by Dr. A. B. Scherer, of Pasadena, Cal., and 
Arthur E. Bestor, chairman of the speaking division of the Committee of Public 
Information, and a very large mass meeting at Medinah Temple in the evening 
of January 14th was addressed by Sir Frederick E. Smith, Bart.. K. C, M. P., 
Attorney General of Great Britain, and Hon. John W. Davis, Solicitor General 
of the United States. Successful divisional conferences of the different organi- 
zations of the Council were held, and also of the Four-Minute men, the U. S. 
Boys' Working Reserve, the Federal Fuel Administration and the Woman's 
Liberty Loan Committee. 



32 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Food Production Conference— Held at Urbana, Illinois, January 28-Fcbruary 
1, 1918, both dates inclusive, for the purpose of outlining a program of food 
production to be recommended to the farmers of the state. Movement supported 
by State Council; College of Agriculture, Illinois University; and Corn Growers' 
and Stockmen's Convention. Conference attended by over 1,000 leading farmers 
of state, all counties represented. Recommendations arrived at published in 
pamphlet form and distributed to farmers. 

■ War Conference of Illinois Nezvspaper Editors — A remarkably large and 
successful conference and luncheon of active Illinois editors which took place at 
the Hotel Sherman, Chicago, March yth, 1918 — the largest and most representa- 
tive gathering of Illinois editors ever assembled. It was addressed by Governor 
Lowden; John H. Harrison of Danville, of the Council; James Kceley, publishcf 
of the Chicago Herald; Mrs. Virginia Barlow LeRoy, editor of the Streator 
Independent Times; J. M. Sheets, editor of the Oblong Oracle, and Bernard J. 
Mullaney, director of publicity, of the Council. 

Entertainment of Belgian Soldiers — This took place in Chicago May 25, 1918, 
nnder the direction of the Cook County Auxiliary. Three hundred and thirty- 
nine officers and men of the Belgian army, survivors of the armored motor car 
corps which had been sent to Russia and had fought there until Russia collapsed, 
were passing through America on their way back to the Western front as guests 
of the United States. They stopped for a day in Chicago, and the patriotic 
demonstration in their behalf was one of the most enthusiastic the city ever 
witnessed. At least half a million people lined the streets covered by a shout 
parade; the veterans were loaded with gifts and flowers, and everything possible 
was done for their comfort. 

Entertainment of French Soldiers — The visit of ninety-six officers and men 
of the famous French Chasseur Alpine corps (the "Blue Devils of France") on 
May 28th and 29th, 1918, was the occasion for another display of extraordinary 
patriotic fervor. The Cook County Auxiliary was in charge of their entertain- 
ment. They spent a day at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station were given 
a luncheon by the Four-Minute Men and a dinner. Everywhere they were 
received with greatest enthusiasm. 

Patriotic Meeting at Attditorium Theatre — June 13, 1918, at which Messrs. 
Justin Godart and Daniel Blumenthal, representing France and Alsace-Lorraine, 
were the principal speakers, and at which the "Blue Devils" (Alpine Chasseurs) 
of France were guests of honor. 

Mass Meeting, February 17, J918 — Addressed by Dr. C. Angelescu, Rou- 
manian Minister, visiting Chicago. Largely attended by foreign-born population, 
and considered one of the most successful demonstrations of patriotism. 

Mass Meeting, June 23, igi8 — Addressed by Colonel, the Earl of Dunmore, 
V. C, M.V.O., D. S. 0., at Municipal Pier, under auspices of Cook County 
Auxiliary Committee ; very largely attended, and considered highly satisfactory 
meeting, most of audience being foreign-born. 

Entertainment of Lord Northcliffe and Sir Stephenson Kent, and their par- 
ties, when in this country, though no large patriotic gatherings were planned for 
either, they speaking to smaller meetings of business-men only. These two 
gentlemen were the guests of Chicago simultaneously. 

Standardizing the National Anthem 

Another effort of the Council in arousing and maintaining the 
patriotism of the state was in getting general recognition of "The Star 
Spangled Banner" as the national anthem, and in stopping misuse of 
the anthem which might tend to belittle it in the public mind. 

By the direction of the Council letters were sent by the Chairman 
early in December, 1917, to all clergymen, band and orchestra leaders, 
theatre managers (regular and motion picture), restaurant and hotel 
managers and the heads of entertainment agencies throughout the state, 
requesting them to have the anthem played upon all public occasions. 
They were requested, also, to have the anthem played formally, either 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 33 

at the opening or closing of programs (preferably the former) and not 
as a part of a program, and not to permit it to be played as a part of a 
medley or combined with other airs. 

Hundreds of letters were received in response to this request, all 
pledging willing compliance with it. The result was distinctly good. 
Upon virtually every public occasion now, the national anthem is played 
with respect and listened to respectfully throughout Illinois. 

United States Government War Exposition 

One of the most interesting enterprises undertaken to build up the 
civilian morale and educate the people to the magnitude of the nation's 
war task was the United States Government War Exposition, held in 
Grant Park, on Chicago's lake front, September 2-15, 1918, under the 
joint auspices of the federal government's Committee on Public Infor- 
mation, and the State Council of Defense of Illinois. 

The object of the exposition was to visualize the achievements of the 
various federal departments in the Government's war program, and to 
satisfy the curiosity of the public concerning implements of war, actuat 
trench warfare, care of the soldiers in the way of hospital accommoda- 
tion, entertainment for leisure hours, etc. 

The war trophies and war material, which constituted a large part 
of the stationary exhibits, were furnished by the Committee on Public 
Information ; the State Council of Defense organized the exposition, 
staged the special features, enlisted co-operating agencies and provided 
for all of the details of management. 

This undertaking was planned, set up, and made ready for opening 
to the public, in a remarkably short time — something like six weeks. 
The crowds that visited it each day were evidence of the place it 
filled. 

Co-operating war relief organizations joined in this exposition; 
special days were set aside for celebration by the citizens from the 
allied countries ; in fact every effort was put forth to make the occasion 
unforgettable by those who witnessed it, as well as to stir the public to 
further efforts toward aiding the government in winning the war. 

The exposition's success was comparable only to that of the 
World's Fair. It ran fourteen days. The smallest day's attendance was 
48,449; the largest, 271,885. The total attendance for the fourteen 
days was 1,955,602. 

Tickets of admission were given the widest possible distribution 
among school children, and with the co-operation of the Chicago Asso- 
ciation of Commerce, among employes of business houses. Tickets 
were thus sold in advance at a nominal price to bring the exposition as 
close as possible to the mass of the people. The aim of the Council, 
which was responsible for the business management, was simply to 
make the exposition pay for itself. It was so successful, even at 
nominal admission prices, that it earned a net profit of $306,146.51. 
Under restrictions imposed by law, all of this had to be turned over to 
the Committee on Public Information. (Appendix XL) 



34 state council of defense 

Public Schools an Important Factor. 

As the spirit of the people rose in support of the war, the pubHc 
schools became a valuable adjunct of patriotic effort. Throughout Chi- 
cago and in many parts of the state, a definite patriotic program was 
part of each school day. The school children also gave assistance in 
selling Liberty Loans, soliciting for the Red Cross and the like. 

The children responded so heartily — for youth is never disturbed by 
doubt or compromise ; it is always positive — that the schools came in 
time to receive so many appeals, in the name of patriotism, that all of 
them could not be answered and it was sometimes difficult to decide 
which should be ignored. To cope with this situation the Council 
appointed an educational Committee composed of leading educators, 
who mapped out a consistent policy and program to be followed in 
patriotic school work. This committee played a particularly important 
part in promoting the U. S. Boys' Working Reserve (for names of 
Committee, etc., see Appendix XIV). 

Chicago Celebration of Illinois Centennial 

The centennial of Illinois statehood occurred while the United States 
and the allies were at war with Germany ; hence commemorative cele- 
bration of it was also serviceable as a means of arousing further active 
patriotism and was so employed by the state Centennial Commission at 
several historic spots in the state. 

The Commission's plans for a celebration in Chicago miscarried, so 
Governor Lowden asked the State Council of Defense to undertake it. 
The Chairman of the Council appointed a general committee for the 
purpose. The week of October 7-12, 1918, was chosen for the cele- 
bration. A pageant was deemed the most appropriate means of de- 
picting the 100 years of history to be commemorated. The pageant 
was produced before packed houses at the Auditorium on the evenings 
of October 9, 10 and 11, and on the afternoon of October 12. Patriotic 
mass meetings, addressed respectively by Professor Thomas G. Mas- 
saryk, later president of Czecho-Slovakia, and Governor Lowden, took 
the place of the pageant on the evenings of October 8 and 12. 

In connection with this celebration, a statue of Alexander Hamil- 
ton was unveiled in Grant Park on September 28, and an Illinois Cen- 
tennial monument was unveiled in Logan Square, Chicago, both hav- 
ing been provided for by the B. F. Ferguson Fund. 

The expenses of this celebration were defrayed by the sale of 
boxes at the Auditorium (the rest of the house was open free to the 
public), and the sale of Centennial half dollars, a special coin struck 
by the United States Government. (See Appendix XII.) 

Great Cumulative Effect 

Another important factor in the Council's patriotic program to 
arouse the people of the state was the Chicago Branch of the National 
Security League. This organization, while not a part of the Council, 
co-operated with it extensively, particularly in the matter of arranging 
patriotic meetings and the distribution of literature. This league had 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 35 

the services of a large body of men of prominence in affairs of high 
patriotism and devotion to their country, and it worked in complete 
harmony with the Council throughout the period of the war. 

These instances are given chiefly to show the character of the work 
done by the Council to arouse dormant patriotism. Although they were 
major incidents, taken all together, they were but a minor part of the 
work done by the Council to achieve that end. The Council feels that 
the cumulative effect of all that was done was tremendous, and repaid 
many times over all it cost in money, energy and effort. In carrying out 
this program, the Council had unfailing co-operation from the Woman's 
Committee. It also had co-operation with and valuable help from the 
Committee on Public Information at Washington, the various religious 
organizations and a great many fraternal, commercial and social organi- 
zations of the state. 



VII 

FOOD: ILLINOIS* BIGGEST WAR WORK 

When the Council was created unofficial campaigns were under way 
to induce the voluntary conservation of food and to bring about in- 
creased food production. There had been much discussion, official and 
general, of governmental control of food and other basic products, but 
no action had been taken. At its first business meeting (held May 12, 
1918) the Council passed the following resolution, offered by Mr. J. 
Ogden Armour: 

Resolved, That it is vitally necessary to our country and people, that 
there be immediate conservation by the United States of foodstuffs, grains, 
fuel and other basic commodities, and that upon the prompt enactment of 
proper legislation of this kind will depend the safety and preservation of our 
nation and our success in the war ; and that delay in adopting such a law 
will be fraught with dangerous consequences ; 

Resolved, further, That the Congress of the United States be urged to 
enact, at once, a rigid and comprehensive Food, Fuel and Commodity Act 
that will vest in a Commission to be appointed by the President, full power 
(subject to appropriate safeguards) to regulate and control the production, 
distribution, transportation and price of food-stuffs, grains, fuel and other 
basic commodities. 

A Stroke for Federal Control 

As directed by the Council, the resolutions were telegraphed to the 
President, to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives at Washington, as the first official endorse- 
ment of federal control of basic commodities — an idea which was later 
crystallized into law in the Lever Act, which brought about both the 
U. S. Food Administration and the U. S. Fuel Administration. 

Until necessary legislative action was taken the Council was limited 
to propaganda and persuasion to secure increased production and pre- 
vent waste. It used those powers to the utmost. Through the publicity 
department and with the hearty co-operation of the publishers of the 
state three campaigns were started promptly and were carried on ener- 
getically to the end of war activities, as occasion required : 

1. Voluntary restriction of the use of wheat and meat. 

2. A canning campaign, to prevent the waste of vegetables or fruits, 
either in home gardens or upon the market. 

3. The use of substitutes for essential meats, fats, wheat and sugar. 

Special Food Campaigns Pushed 

As a beginning, and upon the request of the Council of National 
Defense, the Council undertook to bring about discontinuance of the 
practice of returning unsold bread by retailers throughout Illinois, as a 
means of conserving wheat. The chairman of the Council got in touch 

36 



I 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE Z7 

with 2,300 wholesalers and 18,000 retailers ; several meetings were held, 
and the practice was completely stopped by July 10, 1918. 

In general conservation work the Woman's Committee rendered 
valuable aid. That committee organized a majority of the counties 
of the state very quickly, and by mid-summer women throughout 
the state were exhorting against waste, organizing canning clubs, 
teaching canning and drying, and advocating and demonstrating the 
use of substitutes for essential products needed by the army or for 
shipment abroad to our allies. As an incident of its work, before 
the Food Administration was given definite powers under the Lever 
Act, the Woman's Committee secured signatures to 672,000 Hoover 
food pledges. 

The campaign in behalf of food conservation by canning and dry- 
ing vegetables was carried on by the Publicity Department and the 
Woman's Committee throughout the Summer and Fall of 1917, and 
with the Food Production and Conservation Committee aiding, was 
well under way for the Summer of 1918, at the end of the calendar year, 
Recipes in great number were sent out. drying and canning clubs were 
organized throughout the state in 1917, and more in 1918 and the 
women of the state in general were made aware of the vital necessity 
for the home preservation of fruits and vegetables as long as the war 
lasted. (Appendix XIII.) 

Patriotic Food Shows Inaugurated 

The campaign to induce the use of substitutes for meats, fats, sugar 
and wheat was both extensive and varied. Through the Publicity 
Department and the Woman's Committee, exhortation was employed 
throughout 1917, and again numberless recipes were distributed. 
Demonstration was added after the organization of the Food Produc- 
tion and Conservation Committee, beginning with a corn meal demon- 
stration in Chicago. The original one, held in a vacant store in 
November, was followed by some twenty-five others in Chicago and 
other parts of the state, and the success of these minor undertakings 
inspired the Patriotic Food Show, which took place at the Coliseum, 
Chicago, January 5th to 13th, 1918. 

Despite two blizzards of extraordinary severity, that show was 
attended by 125,000 people, and was a success financially as well 
as a demonstration in the use of substitutes for essential food prod- 
ucts. It became the model for more than 250 such demonstrations 
throughout the nation. Each county in the state — generally under the 
direction of local organizations of the Woman's Committee — held 
similar shows on a smaller scale, and it was copied in twenty or 
more states. 

The United States Food Administration, the United States De- 
partment of Agriculture, the University of Illinois, the University of 
Chicago, the Chicago Normal School, Lewis Institute and the Chicago 
School of Domestic Arts and Sciences co-operated with the Council 
in producing the show, and also in compiling the Patriotic Recipe 
Book, of which more than 300,000 copies were sold at a nominal price 
and sent to every part of the world. (See Appendix XIII.) 



38 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Various other campaigns to educate the public in the use of 
substitutes were carried on, chiefly through the Woman's Committee, 
all with the fundamental idea of conserving essential foods for the 
use of the army. (Appendix XIII.) 

Food Production Taken Up 

When the Council was created plans for food production in 1917 
were too far advanced for much to be done in that year. But when 
the Lever Act became effective, providing for federal control of food 
already in existence, the Council was free to plan for increased 
production in 1918. 

This task was undertaken early in the Fall of 1917. The Pub- 
licity Department began it with propaganda in behalf of increased 
Fall wheat acreage, and in September the Food Production and 
Conservation Committee began extending its organization through- 
out the state. As seen by the Council, three principal things needed 
to be done to achieve that end : 

1. To provide a farm labor supply which would permit increased crops 
in 1918. 

2. To get the co-operation of the agricultural interests in behalf of a 
definite production program. 

3. To take steps to meet a serious seed corn shortage which it was ap- 
parent early in the Winter might dangerously reduce the state's best crop. 

Farm Labor and Boys' Working Reserve 

To help solve the labor problem, the Council got behind the United 
States Boys' Working Reserve. That organization had been of some 
help in providing farm labor in 1917. A total of around 1,200 town 
and city boys betAveen sixteen and twenty-one years of age had gone 
to the farms for the Summer, and reports of what they had accom- 
plished indicated that much better work might be expected another 
year. So a definite program for enrollment and education of town 
and city boys for farm work was adopted with the Council's co-opera- 
tion, as early as October, 1917. (See Appendix XIV.) 

There were two major things to be done to make the Boys' Work- 
ing Reserve a valuable adjunct of the farmers of the state; (1) to 
enroll the boys, and (2) to give those enrolled rudimentary instruc- 
tion in farm work. The enrollment was carried on by an agent of the 
Reserve in each county; by the principals of all town, township and 
city high schools, and by county superintendents in each county. 
This work was aided by wide publicity given the undertaking through 
the Council's Publicity Department, posters, and speakers for both 
the Woman's Committee and the Neighborhood Committee. 

When this had been well started the Council found that a third 
thing was equally necessary, namely: to cultivate among the farmers 
a willingness to utilize the boys to be furnished by the Reserve. In the 
beginning the farmers were very skeptical of the Reserve's usefulness. 
This attitude was overcome by the influence of the Council's compre- 
hensive organization, 



■I 



state council of defense 39 

High Schools Co-operate 

To prepare the boys for work on the farms the Educational Com- 
mittee of the Council had prepared, under the direction of Dean 
Eugene Davenport of the State College of Agriculture, University of 
Illinois, a series of twenty-two farm-craft lessons, which were made 
a part of the curriculum of every high school of the state. These les- 
sons were also adopted by the Reserve in a number of other states, 
and in 1919 they were published by the national government for the 
general use of the Reserve throughout the nation. 

With this preparation, about 20,000 boys were sent to the farms 
in 1918, beginning in April. By a special arrangement effected through 
the Educational Committee, they were given credit in their school 
work for the work done on the farms. About 1,000 of these were 
sent out of the state, 250 going to Michigan to help save the sugar 
beet crop, upon the request of the United States Food Administration. 

It is probably not an overstatement to say that the success of the 
United States Boys' Working Reserve in Illinois would have been im- 
possible without the help it had through the public schools. The State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Chicago Board of Education 
and county superintendents, local school authorities and high school 
principals and teachers throughout the state gave the movement their 
heartiest support. (See Appendix XIV.) 

r 

Adult Labor Mobilized 

Further to help meet the labor shortage on the farms, the Farm 
Labor Administration was established, under the direction of the Food 
Production and Conservation Committee, which in February began 
a publicity campaign to induce men who had farm training to go back 
to the farms, and to bring middle-aged farmers out of retirement and 
into active service. This campaign was very effective, and was supple- 
mented by county clearing houses throughout the state, and a central 
clearing house in Chicago, ^here a committee of practical farmers 
passed on the qualifications of applicants for farm work. By virtue 
of an early and favorable Spring in 1918, the labor shortage was not 
as great at planting time as it was feared it might be, but the admin- 
istration found permanent places for 2,101 men on the farms. 

With harvest time approaching, the danger of much waste through 
lack of men to get in the wheat crop again threatened seriously, so 
the Labor Administration, aided by the United States Department of 
Agriculture, went out through the towns and villages and organized an 
emergency reserve of 50,000 men. This army was made up of men 
from the shops, stores and the factories ; business and professional 
men, and, in a few instances, women. It gave splendid service, and 
not a single acre of wheat was wasted through lack of labor to harvest 
it. (Appendix XIII). 

Crop Program Formulated 

To get an agricultural production program for Illinois, the Council 
enlisted the aid of the State College of Agriculture, the Corn Growers 
and Stockmen's Convention and the Illinois Farmers' Institute. The 



40 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

three first named joined in a call for a war conference to work out a 
program, which conference was in session at Urbana from January 
28th to February 1st, 1918, both dates included. It was a gathering of 
practical, experienced men of reputation, who gave each phase of 
the subject of food production the most careful and informed con- 
sideration. Separate committees of experts worked out separate 
reports for each branch of husbandry, after which a general committee 
put the whole into a concrete program which was suitable and practic- 
able for every county in the state, and which fitted the war crop needs 
of the government as expressed by the United States Department of 
Agriculture. (Appendix XIII.) 

Wheat Crops Increased 

The eflfect of the Council's food production campaigns was con- 
cretely illustrated by the wheat crop ; was the more clearly illustrated 
because wheat is not the state's main crop. 

The United States Government asked the whole country in the fall 
of 1917, to grow more wheat — to increase the acreage in wheat-growing 
sections and elsewhere to grow wheat in place of other crops, when 
possible. Illinois responded with a 10 per cent increase in the 
acreage of fall wheat. The increased fall wheat acreage in other 
states averaged only 4 per cent. Illinois responded again to spring 
wheat planting and doubled the acreage of the previous year. Another 
response to the "more wheat" appeal came in the form of better farm- 
ing, which was a feature of the farm program formulated at Urbana. 
Attention to the farm labor problem supplemented this promotional 
work. 

A direct consequence of all this was an Illinois wheat crop in 1918 
of 60,991,000 bushels, an increase of 70 per cent over the crop of 
1917, which was twice that of 1916. The Government asked for more 
barley, too, and Illinois raised 4,750,000 bushels, double the crop of 
1917; for more rye, and Illinois raised 3,800,000, nearly five times the 
1917 crop. The oats crop was 45,000,000 bushels short because the 
government asked for these other crops instead of oats. Equally 
marked results of the Council's food production work were revealed 
in the corn crop, but for a different reason. (Appendix XIII). 

How THE Corn Crop Was Saved 

An extraordinary early fall with a sharp freeze at an unprecedented 
date in 1917, threatened Illinois with an altogether unusual danger 
to her greatest crop — a seed corn shortage. Fortunately, the danger 
was realized as early as December, 1917. The Council, through the 
Food Production and Conservation Committee and the Publicity 
Department, at once began a campaign to induce farmers to make an 
early germination test of the corn they expected to use for seed, 
which was carried on through the press, by means of posters and 
through the Illinois Farmers' Institute. 

The Seed Corn Administration was established in January, and 
a complete survey of the state was made, which revealed that only 
two-thirds of the usual corn area could be planted unless unusual 



(7 

\ 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 41 

measures were adopted. So. besides preaching to all farmers the 
necessity for testing, scientifically, each ear of corn shelledTor seed 
the Coimc.l made an arrangement with certain Chicago banks to 
finance the pttrchase of a large stock of tested seed. These banks 
advanced he Council $495,000 (and were ready to advance $1 250 
000 if that amount was needed), with which 125.000 bushels of' corn 

tTan 16 0m''H- ■?^'T;^ '"^'T'' ^^'^^ ^"^^^^^ --^ sold to more 
than 16,000 individual Illinois farmers, and 65,000 bushels were turned 
over to the United States Department of Agriculture for use in other 
states And the educational campaign uponihe text. "Test Your Seed 
Corn, was carried on until the very last day of planting. 

The result of the campaign and of the purchase and sale of tested 

¥h1was68 0Ko° i;^^f' -- \-- -op of 351,450,000 bush s 
Ihis was 68,000 000 bushels below the great crop of 1917 but because 

year, ,o produce results of incalculable value. Th importance o 
testnig seed corn by germination was impressively demons"rated 
Thousands of farmers who never before employed this tes it is 

retfrns'' TAppe^dix X™St''"' " """ """^'"""^ """"^^^ "°P 

War Gardening Promoted 

adv^r'nttd Ihti r^"' ""^ ^°°^ production, the Council continuously 
Cnuurl *h^^f ^"^lo" of war gardens in all available spaces. The 
Counc 1 came mto existence too late in 1917 to do much except in the 
way of propaganda, earned on through the Publicity Departn^ent but 
home gardens were given a definite place in the food roduction 
program worked out at the Urbana conference, and were the subject 

and'thrPood'p 'J * r '^'''''TJ Department, the Woman's Commi te 
and the Food Production and Conservation Committee all through the 
late winter and spring months of 1918. Under the urging of the local 
organization of the two latter bodies, literally thousands^ o acres o 
vacant lots and other waste lands were planted in gardens in the cities 
towns and vil ages of the state, and in Chicago the Food ProdSon 
and Conservation Committee had a special department to deal wkh 
war gardens. Reports show that within the city limits of Chi ago 
I' ?^^loo ""^7^^^ '^^' ordinarily non-producing land was plantfd 

'ii^f^ti^9t8r rA^t&i^/r '''''-'' '' ''' '"^^ 

Soft Corn Utilized 

efre^tive'^'Wt^'rnl^ '^" ^'""''^ T conserving food was a short but 
ettectiye soft corn campaign. As a result of the early frosts of 

''soft'' nt'hnT"' thousands of fields of corn that were immatu e o 
soft at husking time This corn, when cribbed, very quickly heated 
and spoiled In ormation reached the Food Production a'nd Con ela- 
tion Committee that experiments in heavily salting such corn had been 



42 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

successful in keeping it from spoiling, and through the press and its 
county organizations that committee spread the news broadcast among 
corn growers. A very great many adopted the plan, and the Council 
helped in getting a supply of salt to meet their needs Also the mter- 
est of the State College of Agriculture was enlisted, and that mstitution 
undertook scientific experimentation of salting and other methods ot 
perserving unripened corn, which are expected to be of permanent 
value to husbandry. (Appendix XIII). 

Still another service of the Food Production and Conservation 
Committee was to act as a bureau of information upon varied subjects, 
chief among which was in getting priority orders from the govern- 
ment for the shipment of soft corn and other grams, fertilizer, lime- 
stone and the like. 

Importance of Council's Food Work 

It is the conviction of the Council that its efforts in behalf of 
increased food production and its seed corn campaign were among 
its best contributions to the war work of the state All the sub- 
organizations charged with this work labored faithfully, and the co- 
operation of the state departments called upon, of the State College of 
Agriculture, and of the farmers themselves, was admirable. Without 
such co-operation, the Council could have done little. 

In addition, the co-operation of all interests in this big undertaking 
to increase acreage, conform to a program, and increase production 
per acre gave an illuminating illustration of the fine war spirit of the 
agricultural industry. 

In the latter part of 1918 the Food Production and Conservation 
Committee organized the Agricultural War Board of Illinois. This 
body was composed of the state's leading practical and scientific repre- 
sentatives of the agricultural industry. Its purpose was to co-operate 
specifically with the farmers of the state in solving new problems 
thrust upon them by war conditions. When the Council wound up 
its affairs the activities of the Agricultural War Board were trans- 
ferred to the Illinois Agricultural Association, which is undertaking to 
carry out the idea upon which the War Board was based as being 
of permanent value to the agricultural industry. (See Appendix Xlli.) 



I 



VIII 
FUEL: ILLINOIS TAKES THE LEAD 

How the Illinois Council handled the coal crisis — how they gathered 
together the operators and miners to agree on a price and, when no 
agreement was reached, announced that they themselves had the power 
to regulate prices, threatened to do so, and called a conference of sixteen 
state councils to take preliminary steps, thus winning the attention of 
the whole country to the need of a federal fuel administrator — is com- 
monly known. — Century Magazine for December, 1917. 

As for fuel, the determined action of the Illinois Council last 
Summer in exposing the operators' rapacity, in threatening to set prices, 
and in calling a conference of other Mid-Western Councils, did much 
to pave the way for the Fuel Administration. — New York Evening 
Post of August 17, 1918. 

The Council came into existence to find a ready-made fuel problem 
awaiting solution. Before there was a State Council of Defense the 
Governor of Illinois was overwhelmed with letters in regard to the 
price and supply of fuel, not only from consumers in Illinois but from 
adjoining states as well. This correspondence was turned over to the 
Council as soon as it was organized. 

Also the Council of National Defense had some time previously 
organized a Committee on Coal Production, with an Illinois coal opera- 
tor as its chairman, and the Federal Trade Commission had under way 
an investigation of the economic problems of coal production. About 
the same time there was introduced in Congress a bill, known after 
its enactment as the Lever Act, which did not become effective, how- 
ever, until August 10, 1917. 

As previously stated the Council at its first meeting, and before the 
introduction of the Lever Bill in Congress, adopted a resolution urging 
upon Congress the immediate enactment of ''a rigid and comprehensive 
Food, Fuel and Commodity Act." (For this resolution in full, See 
Chapter VII.) 

But in the meantime fuel production, conservation, and price were 
all matters of urgent inportance to Illinois as a state, and because 
no federal agency had then undertaken to deal with the matter in its en- 
tirety, the Council was impelled to do so. 

Many Difficult Factors Encountered 

Many factors combined to cause a critical situation in the fuel field. 
Increased demand for fuel throughout the country, induced by tremen- 
dous war orders in almost every branch of manufacturing, brought a 
sharp increase in price. Lack of, or diversion of, railroad equipment 
threatened a coal shortage for the coming winter and had a depressing 
influence upon production. Unusually high living prices caused wage 
unrest among miners. Mine operators complained that retailers were 

43 



44 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

retarding production by failure to order Winter supplies. Retailers 
retorted that their customers would not buy because of the high prices 
demanded by operators. 

Taking cognizance of this situation, the Council, at its meeting of 
May 26, 1917, adopted the following report from its committee on Food, 
Fuel and Conservation: 

Fuel Situation Surveyed 

"The advance in the price of coal, like so many other price advances, grew 
out of an hysteria or mad rush to get supplies at any cost. 

"Individuals and concerns — but notably coal brokers or speculators, as dis- 
tinguished from regular dealers and consumers — rushed to the coal producers 
with all sorts of fancy offers and premiums. 

"With prices once advanced, operators have been loath to reduce them, 
and we find prices unreasonably and unconscionably high in many instances. 

"It also seems to be a more or less general practice for operators not to 
contract more than half their present output (and that at good advances) and 
to use the remaining fifty per cent of their production for the open market, 
which means usually all they can sell it for. 

"We find that freight rates have advanced little or nothing; that the price 
paid miners has increased possibly twenty-five cents per ton, but that otherwise 
costs in operation have advanced no more in proportion than in other lines. 

"While for some time there has been a great car shortage, yet during the 
past year the mines have operated about two hundred and thirty days, which 
is about maximum record. 

"The Illinois coal production figures for the year ending March 31, 1917, 
have not yet been accurately determined, being estimated at an increase of 
from five to twenty-five per cent over the previous year. However, in the last 
year Illinois mines have been called upon to supply coal to the extent of at 
least two million tons in the Great Lakes region, as well as at Gulf and 
Atlantic coast ports, where little or none of our coal has hitherto gone. 

"Not now or ever in recent times have our Illinois mines operated at 
anything like their actual equipped capacity. Under normal conditions this 
excessive capacity brought competition that frequently resulted in coal sold 
at little or no profit, and in not a few instances big steam users could get their 
grades at less than cost. We find that some mines have stored great quantities 
of coal at various points distant from the mines, and that a few are now 
preparing to store great quantities at the mines, when car supplies do not meet 
production. We do not find any special shortage in coal mine labor. 

Definite Remedies Proposed 

"We have reached the conclusion : 

"First: It is to the vital interest of all concerned that the mines be fur- 
nished with car supply as near their capacity as possible and that, failing in 
proper car supply, the mine operators should be encouraged or, under proper 
provisions, required to produce every possible pound and store above ground 
the production in excess of car supply. The gain from getting maximum 
results from mine and men would probably meet the extra cost of storage as 
well as meet the economic and social demand that every producer be at full 
time work. 

"Second: That the unnecessary and exploiting activities of coal brokers, 
speculators and interlopers, as opposed to the necessary and legitimate trans- 
actions of regular dealers and consumer-purchasers, be prohibited. 

"Third: That if these provisions do not succeed in correcting the present 
unreasonable and unjustified situation in coal prices, then, 

"Fourth : Forthwith, the whole matter of coal production, distribution 
and price should be taken in hand by Federal authorities and by the State 
Council of Defense of Illinois, and that in that event, the State Council use all 
of its power to effect a satisfactory change in prevailing conditions." 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 45 

Following this report, the Council appointed a special Advisory 
Commtttee on Coal Production and Distribution, made up of coa^ 
operators and railroad presidents. After a thorough investigat on o 

portal on Hn;;l' ^'^'^f ' '''''''''' ^^ P^^^^^^^ -^^ the trans- 
portation lines this special committee reduced to a report a concrete 
program for the handling of coal in quantities. This prograr^ was 
ent by the Council to all coal dealers, coal roads and connecfing lines 
industrial plants, public utility concerns, municipalities, steam rai^ 
roads and mine operators of Illinois, and their co-operation in cTrrW 
out the recommendations was asked. ^ctnyiug 

The result was good, but not good enough to meet conditions. 
Price Problem Taken Up 

n.J".*^^ meantime the Council was carrying on through the Publicity 
Department a campaign to induce coal users of all kinds to buy their 

t^.Jl ^o^. household consumption, with consequent suffering and 

co^. R~fY ^'^^'^^ ""T"^^ the poorer people-when Winter should 

nnKl?; I '■'^'°" °^ *^'^ ^'^^' P"^^ °^ ^0^1' the response of the 

public was not sufficient to ayert the threatened danger 

of '?!!]v°Tq^7 T° r°^ ''m ^^^^!' ^'°"' ^^'^ ^''^ °^ J^"e to the middle 
ot July 1917, the Council itself and its officers and members held 
frequent conferences with coal operators and dealers on ways and 
means for increasing production and for inducing lar^e and small con- 
sumers alike to buy early and store for Winter u!e. Always howeyer 
the question of price interyened and it became apparent that the public 
at large would not buy coal so long as it considered the price to be 

n tl? ^;n .?° VY "^T'"^ °-^ ^" ^^°^""'^ °" J"ly 1^' it was decided 
to take up the whole coal question, price included, and follow it through 
to a dehnite conclusion. ^ 

Mine Operators Appealed To 

91 Tqi?^^ T"^' ^ ^^^""'^^ meeting of the Council was called for July 
Zl, iyi7, and representative operators from all parts of Illinois— iiftv 
m number— were invited to attend and present their side of the case. 
_ This conference was an all-day session. Most of the operators 
invited to participate were present in person or by representatives. 
The general trend of their arguments was that the mine price of 
Illinois coal could not be reduced. The upshot of the conference 
was the appointment of a committee of nineteen-seven members 
and the chairman and secretary of the Council, seven representa- 
tives of the operators and three representatives of the United Mine 
Workers of America— to continue the discussion, and to try to reach 
an agreement. ^ 

o^ ^YJ"'^^ ^^'''°'' °^ ^^^ ^P^^'^^ J°i"t committee took place on Tuly 
U The representatives of the operators presented a report in sup- 
port of the prices then existing and questioning the right of the 
Council legally to intervene in the determination of prices The 
discussion was continued through the day and through a good part 



46 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

of July 24, 1917, the representatives of the United Mine Workers 
supporting the position of the operators on prices at the mines. 

Price Problem Not Solved 

The nine representatives of the Council concurred in a report 
stating, (1) that the price of coal was excessively high, and (2) that 
the Council possessed drastic powers to meet war exigencies. They 
also made ready to furnish a further report by the Law and Legisla- 
tion Committee of the Council, setting forth the legal powers of the 
Council. 

A third meeting of the special joint committee took place July 26, 
1917, and again Council members, operators and mine workers failed 
to reach a solution of the problem. 

The report of the Committee on Law and Legislation was made to 
the Council on August 7. It suggested three courses of procedure for 
the Council, (1) to seize and operate the mines as a war measure (the 
Council possessing power to do so), (2) to call immediately a meeting 
of representatives of State Councils of neighboring coal producing 
states to agree upon a uniform measure of relief and method of proce- 
dure, and (3) either separately or in conjunction with other states, to 
take immediate steps to secure the enactment of a federal law to give 
a national administrative body full powers over coal production, dis- 
tribution and prices.' 

This report was adopted, and at once copies of it were telegraphed 
the President of the United States, the Governor of Illinois and various 
other national officials. The Council also directed the chairman to call 
a conference of representatives of the State Councils of Defense of 
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, 
North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, West 
Virginia and Wisconsin to meet in Chicago on August 16, 1917, to 
consider and agree upon a program. 

State Control Is Undertaken 

Before this conference could assemble representatives of the coal 
operators called upon the Governor at Springfield on August 10, and 
after an all-day conference with him, signed the following agreement: 

"The operators agree to reserve the amount of coal necessary for consump- 
tion by the people of the State of IlHnois and to sell same at prices to be 
determined as hereinafter provided. 

"The Governor is to appoint a representative to be known as Director of 
Coal, to act in tlie Governor's behalf upon all questions arising as to the pro- 
duction, prices, distribution and transportation of coal to be consumed by the 
people of Illinois during the remainder of the coal year expiring on March 
31, 1918. 

"The State Council of Defense is to appoint a committee of three of its 
members to act hereunder. 

"The Illinois coal operators are to appoint a committee of three who are 
to be granted full power to act upon behalf of all the coal operators in the 
State of Illinois with respect to all such questions. 

"The mine workers of Illinois are to appoint a committee of three mem- 
bers who are to be granted full power to act upon behalf of their organiza- 
tion upon all such questions. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 47 

Price Fixing Provided For 

"The Director of Coal shall have the power from time to time to determine 
the price of coal at the mine mouth in the various districts of the state, to 
be sold as above set forth to consumers in the State of Illinois; such price, 
however, in no case to exceed the maximum price as fixed from time to time 
by the Federal Government. Such Director of Coal, before determining any 
price of coal, shall in respect of such price give to all the above named com- 
mittees an opportunity to be heard. 

"The Director of Coal and the three above named committees are im- 
mediately to take up the subject of distribution and retail prices with the coal 
retailers of the state, to the end that the retailers join with the operators in 
the powers herein conferred and to be conferred upon the Director of Coal 
so far as retail prices may be concerned. 

"The Director of Coal and the three above named committees are imme- 
diately to take up the subject with the railroads, to the end that the rail- 
roads join with the committees herein provided for in the powers herein con- 
ferred and to be conferred upon the Director of Coal, so far as the question 
of transportation may be concerned. • 

"It is the substantial essence and spirit of the arrangement provided for 
by this instrument that all action of every kind taken or to be taken under this 
arrangement shall be had and taken with the utmost possible dispatch." 

Following immediately upon the signing of the agreement by the 
operators, the Governor named the Chief Justice of the Illinois Su- 
preme Court as Fuel Director for the state, who at once began a sur- 
vey of conditions and costs that would enable him to fix an equitable 
price for coal. 

Upon this same day, August 10, 1917, the Food, Feed and Fuel Con- 
trol bill, generally known as the Lever Act, was signed by the Presi- 
dent and became a law. 

Thirteen States Act Jointly 

On August 16, 1917, the conference of representatives of Mississippi 
Valley states, previously referred to, was held in Chicago. The follow- 
ing states were represented : 

Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin by their Governors and other mem- 
bers of their State Councils ; Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and South Da- 
kota by other state ofificials or members of their State Councils. Follow- 
ing an all-day discussion of the subject the following resolutions were 
unanimously agreed upon : 

"(1) The production, transportation, distribution and price of coal re- 
quire immediate and drastic supervision, regulation and control, both on the 
part of the Federal Government and of the States. We recognize that, in order 
to effect appropriate and instant relief, it is necessary that there should be 
concurrent, co-ordinate, harmonious and immediate action on the part of the 
Federal Government and of the different States. The States, in their individual 
capacity, have the power to effect such control and regulation within the 
respective States. Under the legislation just passed, the Federal Govern- 
ment has the power to make such regulation and control decisive, complete and 
effective. 

"(2) The production of coal must be stimulated, encouraged and increased 
to the utmost capacity of the mines, so that the needs of the people and indus- 
tries of this country and of our Allies may be fully and promptly met. There- 
fore, every possible agency within the power of the Federal and State Govern- 



48 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

ments should be immediately brought into requisition so that the necessary 
production of coal can be promptly effected; and in bringing about this result 
there must be no interference with the earnings and wages of laborers. 

Entire Coal Situation Discussed 

"(3) There is an urgent necessity for a complete reorganization of the 
methods and machinery of transportation and distribution. These facilities 
should be at once enlarged and increased to the utmost. The elimination of 
delays in transportation, the non-despatch of coal from the mines to the nearest 
markets by the shortest routes, the shipping of coal into coal-producing States, 
the abuse of reconsignment privileges, delays in unloading — these and other 
practices which interfere with the production, despatch and handling of coal 
should be at once corrected. We urge that the nine gateways of Lake Erie 
be utilized to the fullest extent. At present only two are so used. 

"(4) The price of coal is unreasonably excessive, and in many cases 
extortionate. Therefore, it is recommended that the Governors and State Coun- 
cils in the coal-producing States should immediately proceed, if they have not 
already done so, with the ascertainment of the approximate cost of producing, 
handling and distributing coal to the ultimate consumer; and we recommend 
that this be done, so that a report can be made to an adjourned meeting of 
this Conference, to be held in Chicago on next Thursday, the 23rd inst. 

"(5) We recommend that in those States where proceedings are already 
on foot to fix the price of coal to the ultimate consumer, such proceedings shall 
continue to their final conclusion. Whatever action is so had shall be taken 
and co-ordinated with such steps as the Federal Government may take, it being 
the purpose of this report to make it plain to the people of this country that 
there is no desire, and that no attempt should be made, to bring about a con- 
flict between Federal and State authorities. The purpose of this Conference 
is to accomplish a general and uniform result, for the best good of all the 
people, with the use of all National and State instrumentalities which can 
possibly be made available. 

Protection of Consumers Sought 

"(6) These resolutions are adopted with the single end in view of protect- 
ing, not merely the people of the coal producing States, but equally the con- 
sumers of coal in all other States, it being the design and intention of this 
Conference to avoid all possible discrimination, and to take steps for the 
common good of the entire nation. 

"(7) We recognize the far-reaching provisions of the Food, Feed and 
Fuel Control Bill, which became a law on the 10th inst., and also of the Prefer- 
ential Shipments Bill, otherwise known as the Newlands Bill. Under both of 
these enactments the Federal Government is equipped with the authority and 
machinery to effect instant relief, in connection with such action as may be 
found proper or necessary on the part of the different State Governments ; and 
we most earnestly but respectfully urge immediate action on the part of the 
Federal Government. The States here represented pledge their heartiest support 
to and co-operation with all action which the Federal Government and the 
various States may take to relieve the most critical emergency which now 
exists in the coal situation throughout the country. 

"(8) We recommend that a copy of these resolutions be forthwith tele- 
graphed to the President of the United States; and that copies be sent to the 
Governors and State Councils of Defense of the different States." 

Coal Director Begins Work 

In obedience to instructions, these resolutions were telegraphed the 
President that same day, and the following day, August 17, 1917, the 
chairman of the conference and of this Council received this telegram 
from the President : 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 49 

"Telegram received. Can assure you that the matter is receiving 
most careful consideration and everything that can be done will be 
done." 

Upon this day also, the Coal Director for Illinois (that is to say, 
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), began hearings as a pre- 
liminary to fixing the prices of coal, under the agreement made at 
Springiield on August 10. Representatives of operators appeared be- 
fore the Coal Director and disavowed the agreement which had been 
made at Springfield. 

The Coal Director nevertheless proceeded with the hearings, main- 
taining the right of the state to fix prices in such an emergency as then 
existed, and preparations were made to take over the mines in the name 
of the state and operate them in behalf of the public welfare. 

President Fixes Coal Prices 

While these preliminaries were in progress the President resolved 
the situation, on August 21, by himself fixing mine-mouth bituminous 
coal prices for the entire country. The President made drastic reduc- 
tions in the prices of Illinois coal, as follows : 

Fixed Price Operators' Price 

Illinois, Mine run $1.95 $3.25 

" Prepared sizes 2.20 4.00 

Screenings 1.70 3.25 

Iinnois Third Vein, Mine run 2.40 3.50 

" " " Prepared sizes 2.65 4.00 

Screenings 2.15 3.25 

Following this, the President, on August 22, 1917, fixed the mine- 
mouth prices for anthracite coal and named Dr. Harry A. Garfield 
as Fuel Administrator for the United States. Thus the principle 
which the Council had indorsed at its first meeting, namely, federal 
control of fuel together with food and other basic commodities, be- 
came operative and the reason for state intervention disappeared. 

"Buy and Store'" Campaign 

Immediately upon the creation of the Federal Fuel Administration 
the Council reopened its campaign to induce coal consumers to buy and 
store coal, and carried it on until Winter. Because of the lateness of 
the season, because transportation facilities were largely monopolized 
by war orders, and because strikes had reduced production, when 
Winter came there was a very serious shortage in the supply. 

In the meantime, on October 22, 1917, John E. Williams was 
appointed Fuel Administrator for Illinois upon the recommendation 
of the Council, and the Council aided him in getting county admin- 
istrators throughout the state. Also in the meantime, on August 23, 
1917, an adjourned meeting of the conference of State Councils for 
thirteen states was held and resolutions were adopted warmly indors- 
ing the action of the President, and urging the railroads of the coun- 
try to do all possible to better transportation facilities. The Amer- 
ican Railways Association appointed a sub-committee to handle the 



50 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

distribution of open-top equipment, and much was done to make up 
for inadequate production of coal through the Summer months. The 
State Council aided in the work of this organization. Not enough, 
however, was accomplished to avert the threatened shortage, which 
came early in the Winter. 

Coal Saving Campaign Taken Up 

As soon as the Council had concluded its publicity campaign to 
induce the purchase and storage of coal by consumers, it began one 
for the conservation of coal and the most strict economy by all fuel 
users. This campaign reached both manufacturers and households ; 
public utilities and municipalities. Everyone was warned of the neces- 
sity to be just as sparing of fuel as circumstances would permit. 

Also there was evolved through this Council, in behalf of econ- 
omy, a plan for the combination of public utilities in all communities 
in which a fuel saving could be achieved thereby. This plan was 
presented to the Washington authorities, was adopted by them and 
after the first of the year was put into effect in hundreds of municipali- 
ties. No definite figures are available to show the saving thus efifected 
but it was important. 

Public Institutions Helped 

Foreseeing, however, that a coal shortage was inevitable, despite all 
that had been done to induce coal storage and fuel economy, the Coun- 
cil, on November 9, 1917, at the direct request of the State Fuel Admin- 
istration, appointed an advisory Committee on Coal for Public and 
Quasi-Public Institutions. The members of this committee were prac- 
tical and experienced men, and the duty of the sub-committee was to 
see that all public and quasi-public institutions, like the state hospitals, 
county hospitals, schools, street car lines, gas companies and electric 
light companies and such institutions and enterprises should be sup- 
plied with fuel as a first necessity of the public welfare. 

This committee immediately got in touch with all the institutions 
and enterprises included in the scope of its duty, urging upon them 
first to store all coal possible and to be as saving as possible in the 
use of fuel, and second, to call upon the committee in time of need 
for aid. When the time of the shortage did come the committee was 
of great service in having coal assigned to these public and quasi- 
public institutions, so that all were able to perform their functions — 
without sufifering in the public institutions and without stopping service 
of essential public utilities. (See Appendix XV.) 

When Coal Shortage Came 

The coal shortage began to be felt in December, 1917, and lasted 
through the greater part of the winter. It was aggravated by unpre- 
cedented weather and storms. Throughout this entire period the 
Council worked very closely with the State Fuel Administration (which 
was housed in the State Council of Defense building), and was able 
to give material aid in getting general observation of fuel regulations 
for fuel saving and "heatless" days, and in finding coal for distribution 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 51 

to relieve suffering- and to keep in operation essential public enter- 
prises. The Council appointed an advisory committee on Fuel Econ- 
omies of Electric Railways, which made recommendations by which it 
believed 60,000 tons of coal a year could be saved. The Federal 
Fuel Administration did not put these recommendations into effect, 
but some companies did so on their own motion, and substantial fuel 
savings were reported. (See Appendix XVI.) 

Many meetings of coal producers and distributors, of public officials 
and representatives of the various industries and of leading citizens 
were called by the Council and in this way public morale was main- 
tained and a general spirit of helpfulness was engendered so that the 
dangerous period was weathered without disturbances and without 
serious suffering. 

Early Buying in 1918 Urged 

As soon as it was out of the danger zone of the coal shortage, the 
Council (acting again in co-operation with the State Fuel Administra- 
tion) began a publicity campaign for the early buying and storing of 
coal for the Winter of 1918-19. The Council also urged maximum 
production and coal economy throughout the year. 

The Council has reason to believe that its efforts to encourage the 
early buying and storage of coal in 1918, and to stimulate both produc- 
tion of coal and economy in the use of it, were fruitful. In trying 
to maintain and to speed up coal production, the Council had valuable 
co-operation from Mr. Frank Farrington, of Springfield, President 
of the United Mine Workers in the Illinois District. 



IX 

MILITARY AFFAIRS: STATE AND NATIONAL 

When the United States entered the war, there were eight regiments 
of infantry, one of cavalry and three batteries of artillery of the 
Illinois National Guard for internal protection of the state but liable 
to be called for national service. It was obvious, of course, that such 
regiments would be incorporated in the national army within a short 
time, and within thirty days of the declaration of war, the national 
government notified the state authorities that the National Guard 
regiments would be inducted into the federal service on July 25, 1917. 
It was essential that some provision be made to give the state the 
military protection which the situation demanded. 

Prompt Action to Protect State 

Ways and means of providing state troops for emergencies were 
discussed at the first two meetings of the Council, and the following 
program was agreed upon : 

First — That there should be organized three additional regiments 
of the National Guard for service within the state only. 

Second — That, with the consent of the federal government a 
Reserve Militia should be authorized for service within the state only. 

Third — That the Council should be authorized to organize a 
Volunteer Training Corps, from which the Reserve Militia should be 
recruited, and to serve as state troops in case of need. 

This program was laid before Governor Lowden and had his 
approval. To carry it out, legislation was necessary, as well as the 
consent of the national government. The latter was secured by the 
Adjutant General of the state on May 15, 1917, immediately after 
which the necessary bills were drafted and introduced in the General 
Assembly, which was then in session. Through the interest of the 
Lieutenant Governor, who was chairman of the Council's Committee 
on Military Affairs, and the Speaker of the House, who was a member 
of the Council, early enactment of the bills was secured. (See 
Appendix XVIL) 

The work of recruiting and organizing the three additional 
regiments of the National Guard fell to the Adjutant General, and was 
soon accomplished. 

Volunteer Training Corps Formed 

The Council's Committee on Military Affairs at once took up the 
task of organizing the Volunteer Training Corps, and the response 
was quick and generous. An auxiliary committee, having jurisdiction 
in Cook County, gave effective aid in the task. The units of the 
Corps were armed by the Council (with arms supplied by the national 

52 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 53 

government) but the individual members were required to provide 
their own uniforms and provide their own drill halls and the like, 
facts which should be remembered in connection with the rapidity 
with which the Corps was recruited and the patriotism with which it 
was maintained. 

As soon as a sufficient number of units had been organized, the 
authorized Reserve Militia was created by the Governor, and, as soon 
as they were armed and sufficiently trained, the units of the Corps were 
inducted into that service. There were two divisions of the Reserve ; 
the first, comprised four regiments, in Cook County, and the second, 
with two regiments formed, a third in the process of organization 
and a considerable number of independent units in a depot organiza- 
tion, in the 101 counties outside of Cook. 

When the Committee on Military Affairs ceased activity at the 
beginning of the year 1919, a total of 17,566 men had been organized 
under its direction, into 243 units. These were disposed of as 
follows : 

Units Men 

Mustered into Reserve Militia 90 6,996 

Supply Companies, Reserve Militia 2 ISO 

In Reserve Militia Depot Organization 92 5,151 

Merged with other Companies 3 365 

Transferred to National Guard 2 186 

Medical unit 1 100 

Band : 1 50 

Disbanded 44 3,202 

Recognition revoked 4 366 

Transport Companies disbanded 4 1,000 

Total remaining in State military service, or subject to call 12,998 

Valuable Work for the State 

The men were all uniformed and armed with modern rifles. The 
officers were largely men with National Guard experience, or who saw 
service in the Spanish-American war. The men were largely those 
in exempted or deferred classifications under the selective service 
law. Taken in conjunction with the three regiments of the National 
Guard, the Reserve Militia and the Volunteer Training Corps were 
capable of protecting the state under almost any imaginable conditions. 

The Volunteer Training Corps served another helpful purpose. 
The Council invited all men liable to be called under the selective 
service act to participate in the training given the units of the Corps, 
so that when they should be called they would be grounded in the 
rudiments of drill and familiar with orders. A very large number 
of such men took advantage of the opportunity offered, and were 
greatly benefited by the instruction they received. Some units of the 
Volunteer Training Corps made remarkable records in this respect, 
many men so trained passing quickly for non-commissioned and even 
commissioned officers, when finally called to the colors. One unit 
passed 148 men through its rolls into the National Army (besides 
maintaining its full complement of 75 men and drilling 500 drafted 



54 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

men), of whom four became captains and 23 lieutenants. Another 
unit, besides drilhng 150 drafted men, graduated 37 men, including 
one navy ensign, two army captains and two army lieutenants. A 
third graduated 116 men of whom five became commissioned officers. 
(See Appendix XVII.) 

Big Voluntary Enlistment Record 

While the raising of national forces was not one of the duties of 
the Council, this body gave all the aid it could to securing voluntary 
enlistments, especially in giving publicity to calls for men for special 
services, and the Council itself, as well as its local organizations, was 
able to be of much assistance to local exemption boards and district 
boards. Upon all occasions when help could be given these organiza- 
tions, it was forthcoming from the Council. 

In this connection it is interesting to know that Illinois furnished a 
total of 351,153 soldiers and sailors for the national service. Of this 
number 322,812 were in the United States Army; 24,663 in the Navy, 
and 3,678 in the Marines. 

When the selective service law came to be applied in Illinois, nearly 
half of the state's quota had been tilled because the young men of our 
state had volunteered. In some communities, there was no draft 
because the quota had been more than filled by voluntary enlistment. 

The total number registered in the state for military service was 
1,572,747. 



X 

EXECUTING UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TASKS 

As stated previously in this report, the Council from its inception 
regarded the authoritative requests of any authorized branch of the 
National Government as orders. Acting upon that point of view, the 
Council was able to aid the Government not only in getting before the 
people through its Publicity Department and its subsidiary organiza- 
tions, and securing action upon measures of universal significance (like 
food conservation, fuel saving, bond buying, etc.), but was able to 
serve various national departments in a number of specific instances. 

It was gratifying to note, month by month, rising recognition at 
Washington of the Council's splendidly effective state organization, of 
its ability to carry out the Government's undertakings within the state, 
no matter what they might be, and of its whole-hearted readiness to 
do so. 

Commercial Economy Administration Organized 

An instance of quick execution of specific government tasks was 
the Council's Commercial Economy Administration. For some time 
the United States War Industries Board had been seeking ways and 
means of saving time, materials and money by eliminating waste, and 
of saving man power by cutting out non-essential practices in every- 
day business, particularly retail business. In August, 1918, the Coun- 
cil was asked to take hold of this movement. The Commercial Econoniy 
Administration was immediately organized and began by campaigning 
to regulate deliveries by the stores of Illinois, to induce people to carry 
home their own parcels, and to limit Christmas presents to useful 
things. This looked like a hard task— flying in the face of lifelong 
habit — but within sixty days the merchants of every town of 2,000 or 
more inhabitants in Illinois, including Chicago, had limited their de- 
liveries to one a day ; women everywhere, who had never done so be- 
fore, were carrying home their own parcels ; the merchants themselves, 
in every town of the state, were appealing to their patrons, in the 
name of the State Council, to buy only useful gifts for Christmas, and 
to buy those early. Besides, there was a board in virtually every town 
to see that these rules were enforced. (See i\ppendix XVIII.) 

Conservation of Money and Materials 

Conservation of financial resources, as well as of materials, man- 
power and transportation, was considered by the Council back in 
November, 1917. It foresaw that much capital which might be needed 
for war purposes was in danger of being tied up in big public and 
quasi-public enterprises — public improvements, public utility exten- 
sions and the like — that could as well wait until after the war and 

55 



56 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

probably would have to be left unfinished if undertaken. A special 
committee on Conservation of Financial Resources was appointed, com- 
posed of members of the Council including the two labor members, 
and the National Council of Defense was memorialized. 

Meanwhile the authorities at Washington were developing the 
system of priority orders, covering both transportation and the manu- 
facture and sale of materials, as a means of restricting unnecessary 
construction, both public and private ; but without means of checking 
the flood of priority requests somewhere near the flood's source, not 
all was accomplished that was desired. Later the War Industries 
Board asked all State Councils of Defense to assist in curtailing ex- 
penditure for unnecessary private and public improvements. The Illi- 
nois Council appointed for this work a special Committee on Public 
Improvements (three Council members to assist the Council's chair- 
man) ; but the root of the difficulty was not reached. The Council's 
powers in this relation were only advisory to the War Industries Board. 
The proponents of each project — whether a road, a bridge, a 
church, a hospital, a school or a purely private piece of work — always 
wanted their case made an exception and usually were bent on getting 
what they wanted "by hook or by crook." 

Non-War Construction Bureau Created 

The Council made strong representations on the subject to the 
War Industries Board. It believed that the unnecessary drain on 
financial and other resources, caused by unnecessary construction work, 
could be stopped only by adopting a plan tantamount to local authority 
in each State to disapprove and prevent inauguration of any public 
or private construction work that did not fall within clearly defined 
classes of necessary construction. 

The War Industries Board, in September, 1918, authorized State 
Councils of Defense to create machinery for sifting out essential from 
non-essential construction projects. The power of such state organiza- 
tions was advisory only, but it served the purpose of giving the War 
Industries Board definite information upon which to act. 

The Council received word from Washington on September 17, 
1918, to organize for this work. Through the excellent machinery 
provided by the Council's state-wide organization already described, 
89 of the state's 102 counties were organized within thirty days and 
equipped with efifective non-war construction boards under the direc- 
tion of the Non-War Construction Bureau at Council headquarters. 
When the end of the war came, only fifty-five days after the creation 
of this bureau, non-essential construction work, to the amount of $13,- 
873,324.35, had been deferred until after the war and few even com- 
plained about it. 

Certain classes of construction wo^k were, of course, permitted to 
go forward, including the following : Farm buildings costing not more 
than $1,000; building repairs and extensions costing not more than 
$2,500; public highway improvements approved by the United States 
Highway Council; construction necessary to the operation of railroads, 
mines, and United States government war contracts. (See Appendix 
XIX.) 



state council of defense 57 

Recruiting Labor for Essential War Industries 
When it became suddenly necessary for all departments of the 
government to effect an unprecedented expansion to meet war needs, 
there was a shortage of clerical, technical and other help, which greatly 
hampered daily operations. On the other hand, this Council found that 
great numbers of persons, especially the technically trained, were eager 
to find a way of serving the government in some capacity. Creation 
of machinery for connecting the demand with the supply was suggested 
by this Council to the Council of National Defense on November 19, 
1917. When authority to do this came from Washington, a Civilian 
Personnel Committee and a Public Service Reserve Committee, hav- 
ing identical membership and officers, were appointed in December, 
1917, with the express understanding that the Chairman of these identi- 
cal committees would be named as state director of the United States 
Public Service Reserve, a co-operating agency of the United States 
Employment Bureau, under the United States Department of Labor, 
Besides executing certain specific tasks (as will appear), this Com- 
mittee, and its Chairman as State Director of the Public Service Re- 
serve, worked closely with federal officials and departments in mobiliz- 
ing and distributing labor for essential war work. This included en- 
forcement of the Provost Marshal General's "work or fight" order and 
employment of women wherever possible to release men for essential 
war industries. At armistice time, this work was going forward sys- 
tematically through community branches of the Public Service Reserve 
in and around the industrial centers of the state. 

Especially important work was done in stemming a tendency, which 
at one time threatened to become serious, to draft labor unnecessarily 
from one part of the country to another. 

Enrolling Shipbuilders and Civilian Help 

The campaign for enrolling shipyards workers was the Public Serv- 
ice Reserve Committee's most conspicuous single piece of work, and it 
illustrated the promptness and completeness with which this Council 
agency functioned. On January 17, 1918, Illinois was asked to enroll 
skilled mechanics as volunteers for shipyard work, those so enrolled 
to be called as needed. The state's quota was fixed at 23,662. On 
February 17, 1918, Illinois had enrolled 23,678 skilled men, being the 
first state to enroll its quota. Enrollments were continued, and a total 
of 29,613 volunteers were recorded. (vSee Appendix XX.) 

To facilitate enlistments of civilian help, particularly the technically 
trained, for the federal government, the Secretary of the Council's 
Committee on Civilian Personnel (and Committee on Public Service 
Reserve), was appointed special representative of the Ordnance De- 
partment, U. S. Army, Civilian Personnel Section, but his office con- 
tinued to serve all departments of the government and conducted several 
recruiting campaigns for branches of the technical section of the Army. 
Pie secured 2,112 civilian employes for the Ordnance Department of 
the Army and recruited nearly 2,000 more, mostly technically trained, 
for special services of the government. This was in addition to the 
nearly 30,000 enrolled as volunteers for ship building. 
(See Appendix XXI.) 



58 state council of defense 

Extensive Housing Survey Made 

Early in 1918 the U. S. Government found that execution of heavy 
war contracts was hampered frequently by lack of housing facilities 
for the labor imported from other parts of the country to work on 
those contracts. It announced, therefore, that in the future such con- 
tracts would be placed, when possible, in territory prepared to provide 
and house labor. The Housing Bureau of the U. S. Department of 
Labor asked for help in making necessary surveys of housing facilities: 

On July 12, 1918, the State Council of Defense authorized creation 
of the Home Registration Service Committee to work with the U. S. 
Department of Labor. A little later the Chairman of the U. S. Hous- 
ing Corporation asked the Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of 
Architects to make a study and report on housing in the industrial 
districts in Chicago and adjacent territory. 

In the interest of co-ordination the architects' committee was made 
a sub-committee of the Council's Home Registration Service Commit- 
tee and both co-operated with representatives of the Indiana State 
Council of Defense so that the survey might include Hammond, Gary 
and Indiana Harbor, Ind., and all territory in the Chicago industrial 
district. 

The work of the Committee included : House to house tabulation 
of available housing facilities (35,089 rooms and 4,584 house-keeping 
units in houses, flats and hotels), in all of that part of Chicago lying 
south of 31st St. and East of Halsted St.; survey of opportunities for 
creation of new housing facilities throughout the Chicago and adjacent 
industrial territory; survey of transportation facilities with reference 
both to existing industries and housing facilities and to prospective 
industries and housing needs ; a survey of water supply, sewerage, etc., 
in respect to sanitary conditions and possible future needs. 

The Committee saw in this work a broad opportunity for public 
service, for doing something that would be useful both during the war 
and after its termination. The acute situation responsible for this Com- 
mittee and its work passed with the cessation of hostilities, of course, 
but the reports of the Committee and co-operating agencies are of great 
permanent value in connection with future development of the indus- 
trial district in the Southern part of Chicago and adjacent thereto 
across the Indiana line. (See Appendix XXII.) 

An "Illinois Idea" in Highways Transport 

In the beginning, as presented to the Council by the Highways 
Transport Committee of the Council of National Defense, the highway 
transportation question was chiefly one of highway maintenance to 
serve foreshadowed movement of military supplies and even troops 
by motor truck ; so the Council appointed a Highways Transport Com- 
mittee composed of the State's highway engineers. It soon became 
evident that highway transport could be employed to best advantage 
in easing the railroads of short haul and L. C. L. (less than carload 
lot), traffic, and increasing facilities for the distribution of foods and 
other necessities. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 59 

Survey of Illinois conditions developed a further fact; that in the 
absence of uniformly good roads covering a wide area, as a state, the 
usefulness of motor truck transportation could be greatly enhanced by 
co-ordinating it with suburban and interurban electric lines, and letting 
motor trucks be feeders of the electric lines. This may be called the 
Illinois idea in highway transportation. It was followed out in this state 
and adopted by the National Highways Transport Committee for 
recommendation to other States. 

With this situation developed, the Council's Highways Transport 
Committee was enlarged. The original engineer members were made 
the Highways Division and a Transport Division was formed to 
handle the practical problems of promoting freight movement by motor 
truck and hooking up this service with the electric lines. The doing 
of this necessitated surveys to determine where road conditions, on the 
one hand, and commercial and industrial conditions on the other, 
offered a field for the development of systematic highway trans- 
portation. 

Systematic Development of Road Transport 

The Transport Division set about systematic development of road 
transportation throughout the state. It platted the state into districts 
and then into divisions of districts, the divisions embracing groups of 
counties, with an organization in each division and each district. Prac- 
tically all of these were completed and functioning at armistice time. 

But it was in the Chicago industrial district and adjacent territory 
that the Transport Division of the Highways Transport Committee 
gave its clearest demonstration of highway transportation facilities. 
This district embraced the counties of Cook, Lake, Du Page, Will, 
McHenry. Kane, Kendall and DeKalb in Illinois and (in co-operation 
with the Indiana Committee) Lake and Porter Counties of Indiana, 
taking in Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago, Indiana Harbor, Gary 
and other industrial points. 

In this territory motor truck transport was systematically 
developed by co-ordinating existing facilities, starting new motor truck 
express lines, establishing return load bureaus to avoid empty return- 
ing trucks, supervision of rates and so on ; in other words, use of the 
highways to ease the railroads was taken up comprehensively as an 
entirely new branch of the transportation industry. 

Here Was Big Constructive Work 

The results were surprising. When the aggressive and construc- 
tive work of the Highways Transport Committee ceased with suspen- 
sion of activity by the State Council of Defense, more than 50 per 
cent of the short haul and L. C. L. tonnage, originating in or con- 
signed to points within thirty-five to fifty miles of Chicago, was moving 
by road transport; and plans had been completed and tentative arrange- 
ments had been made for moving every pound of freight in that 
territory, if necessary. These plans and arrangements were in anticipa- 
tion of a rail embargo on the Chicago district by the federal govern- 
ment, which at one time was a serious possibility. 



60 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

This work of the Highways Transport Committee with complete 
maps, charts, etc., now a part of the Council's records, should be 
i^aluable in developing motor truck transport to serve peace time needs, 
If there is a field for utilization of the highways to move short haul and 
miscellaneous L. C. L. freight in and around congested industrial sec- 
tions, the ground work for this industry has been done by the Highways 
Transport Committee of the State Council of Defense. (See Appendix 
XXHI.) 

Sifting Out War Inventions 

Another specific service was performed by the Council's Committee 
on Engineering and Inventions, which was allied with the United 
States Naval Consulting Board. It was a mystery organization in the 
sense that none of its reports or the results of the work it did were 
made public. It was composed of men of high technical training who 
received and investigated all inventions and suggestions submitted for 
winning the war. Such of these as seemed feasible or important were 
forwarded to Washington. The Committee investigated a total of 
2,458 inventions, ranging all the way from improved methods of load- 
ing cartridges to cock-sure plans for destroying submarines and Berlin 
by electricity, and gave personal interviews to 2,443 inventors. It 
found 60 inventions worthy of further serious consideration by the 
governnYent's experts and 200 "possibilities"; the Washington authori- 
ties were saved the burden of examining the other 2,198. (See Ap- 
pendix XXIV.) 

Furnishing "Eyes for the Navy" 

Shortly after the outbreak of the war, the United States Navy 
found there was a grave shortage of spy-glasses, binoculars and tele- 
scopes in the United States, and issued an appeal to persons owning 
such glasses to lend them to the Navy. The Council named a special 
Committee on Spy-Glasses, Binoculars and Telescopes to collect pri- 
vately-owned glasses and forward them to the Navy Department. By 
the efforts of this Committee, a total of 2,306 glasses were collected, 
forwarded to Washington, and accepted for the use of the Navy. The 
Navy Department reported that the Illinois Cotnicil led all the rest in 
furnishing "Eyes for the Navy." (See Appendix XXV.) 

Electrical Industry Men for the Government 

At the beginning of the war, the Government called for a very large 
number of men skilled in various branches of the electrical trades, 
chiefly telegraph and radio operators. The Advisory Committee of the 
Electrical Industry of the Council was created to supply the men. 
This body secured, for the Signal Corps and other branches of the 
Army, a great many telegraphers and radio men who were already 
trained, and in addition established 42 free schools where men were 
trained as telegraph, radio and buzzer operators. About 8,000 stu- 
dents were enrolled in these schools, and when active warfare ceased 
with the signing of the armistice, 25 schools were still in full operation. 
This undertaking was financed by the Committee itself. (See Ap- 
pendix XXVI.) 



state council of defense 61 

Helping the Merchant Marine 
Another field in which the Council gave aid, although the organ- 
izations were not under the direct jurisdiction of the Council, was 
that of the Merchant Marine. Three schools were maintained in Chi- 
cago under the direction of the United States Shipping Board, for the 
training of men for this service. The help of the Council was chiefly 
through publicity and in getting recruits. The first of these was a 
School of Navigation for the training of deck officers for the Mer- 
chant Marine, and thus far 262 of its students have been licensed as 
masters, first, second or third mates (of whom 51 were on ships taken 
over by the Navy). The second school was for the training of engine 
room officers, and a third trained firemen, oilers, water-tenders and 
the like. (See Appendix XXVII.) 

American Protective League 

Working in conjunction with the Department of Justice, and, in 
fact, a part of that Department of the federal government, was the 
American Protective League, with headquarters at 120 West Adams 
Street, Chicago, furnished by the State Council of Defense. This was 
the volunteer secret service upon which the government relied so much 
for investigation of disloyalty or apparent disloyalty, for checking dis- 
loyal plotting against war industry, for ferreting out active enemy spy 
activities, for investigating evasion of the selective draft law, for en- 
forcing food and fuel regulations, and practically and generally seeing 
that war-time laws were obeyed. 

This organization worked in close harmony with the State Council 
throughout the state and it found the state-wide organization repre- 
sented in the Neighborhood and County Auxiliary Committees, of 
great assistance in its work. The Intelligence Committee of the Coun- 
cil, which was in touch with conditions throughout the state, worked 
directly with the American Protective League. 



XI 

WORKING FOR THE ARMY AND NAVY 

Under its broad charter of powers and responsibilities, the Council, 
from its organization, regarded it a duty to aid in all possible ways the 
recruiting of the armed forces of the United States, and to promote 
the welfare and protect the rights of the men composing these forces. 
Before the Selective Service Law was passed, the Council actively 
helped, by publicity and in every other way possible, the recruiting cam- 
paigns of the Regular Army, the Marines, the Illinois National Guard 
and the Navy. After enactment of the draft law, the Council aided 
in recruiting for special services and was able, through special represen- 
tatives of the War Department, selected for that purpose, and the Pub- 
licity Department, to get a very large number of men with special train- 
ing or qualifications for Government service. This work was carried 
on to the end although, of course, general recruiting for the Army 
was taken care of by the Selective Service Law. 

Aid to Great Lakes and Fort Sheridan 

In the very first weeks of its existence, the Council was able to be 
of considerable assistance to the Navy Department as represented by 
the U. S. Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Illinois. When the 
war came the Training Station's facilities and equipment for taking 
care of recruits were simply swamped. Built to accommodate not more 
than 1,700 blue-jackets in training, the station was called upon within 
a few weeks to take care of nearly 20,000. More land had to be 
acquired for housing accommodations and much construction work 
had to be put through on an emergency basis. 

The Council sent a special committee of its members to Washing- 
ton, placed the large business experience of other members at the 
service of the naval officers in charge of Great Lakes Station, and so 
materially assisted in overcoming obstacles and delays arising from con- 
fusion incident to the country's sudden entrance into the war. These 
prompt efforts by the Council and its members played a part, at least, 
in putting Great Lakes Station in a position to develop rapidly into 
the largest naval training station in the world, where nearly 50,000 
men at a time were in training for war service at sea. The Council 
also assisted in establishing the station permanently on a greatly en- 
larged basis. 

Fort Sheridan was turned into an Officers' Training Camp in the 
spring of 1917, and the quarters erected were of the simplest construc- 
tion meant only for use during warm weather. As the winter of 1918 
approached, the temporary character of housing construction there was 
found to be inadequate, and was not promptly remedied. The situation 

62 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 63 

was brought to the attention of the Council, and steps taken in conse- 
quence put the barracks in reasonably comfortable condition before 
the coming of extreme weather in the winter of 1917-18, which was 
one of the coldest experienced in this part of the country in forty years. 

Legal Aid to Men in Service 

To protect the interests of the men in the national service, the 
Council, through its Committee on Law and legislation, prepared and 
caused to be widely distributed among the men first called under the 
Selective Service Law, a booklet on "The Legal Rights of Soldiers and 
Sailors," which was just what its title implied. It set forth simply, and 
in language readily comprehended by the lay mind, the protection the 
law gave to the man called upon to fight for his country. 

When additional laws, giving further protection to the men in the 
service, were enacted by Congress, an enlarged edition of this booklet 
was issued and distributed throughout Illinois. Also a legal advisor 
to men called to service was appointed for each exemption district who, 
with the booklet of the Council as his text-book, personally advised all 
the men called what their legal rights were and how to protect them. 
(See Appendix XXVIII.) 

Through the widest possible publicity the Council also called the 
attention of all men drawn for service to the provision of the War 
Risk Insurance Act, and urged them to take out insurance. 

Wholesome Recreation for Soldiers and Sailors 

At an early date, the Council made plans to provide men on leave 
and in transit with entertainment and recreation. A club house in 
Chicago, dances, and theatrical performances were included in the 
program. Later, this work was undertaken and carried out by the 
War Recreation Board of Illinois, which the Council appointed, financed 
and housed. 

This organization was also the State branch of the War Camp Com- 
munity Service. The work it did was financed in most states by the 
National body, but the Illinois branch co-operated directly with the 
State Council of Defense, which collected, through its local organiza- 
tions, the fund of about $550,000.00 required to carry out its program 
to protect the health and maintain the morale of the Illinois men in 
the service by furnishing them with helpful and wholesome recreation. 

Particular mention, for generous and hearty co-operation in this 
work is due to the theatrical profession — theatre-owners, managers, 
performers, musicians and stage hands. Vaudeville entertainment was 
provided gratuitously at Fort Sheridan, Great Lakes, Rockford, Peoria, 
Rantoul, Urbana and Chicago ; free Sunday matinees for soldiers and 
sailors were a regular weekly feature, a special performance of some 
popular attraction being given each Sunday afternoon exclusively for 
men in uniform, all concerned working without pay. 

Many volunteer organizations and private individuals were also 
generous contributors of time and substance to soldier and sailor enter- 
tainment, particularly in conducting dances and similar social diver- 
sions for soldiers and sailors on leave. The Council gratefully acknowl- 
edges its indebtedness to them. 



64 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

The club house planned by the Council was opened in March, 1918. 
A second and a third came later. The Board's work not only served 
to keep the young men on leave out of the mischief into which they 
might naturally fall, but also gave them a better idea of the country's 
appreciation of their service. (See Appendix XXIX.) 

Soldier and Sailor Welfare Promoted 

The Illinois Council also co-operated to the limit of its opportuni- 
ties with all organizations having to do, either directly or indirectly, 
with the welfare of soldiers and sailors, both in training camps at 
home, and in service abroad. 

The Council's various committees and departments supported the 
American Red Cross "drives" for members and for funds ; it exploited 
the opportunities offered to women to knit, make surgical dressings, and 
otherwLse serve the Red Cross ; it gave wide publicity to the campaign 
for enrollment of nurses. The Red Cross in return co-operated closely 
with the Council, particularly through the Chicago Chapter, in help- 
ing the Council's License Committee restrict unauthorized and un- 
worthy enterprises in the name of "war relief." The Chicago Chapter 
also co-operated closely with the exemption district committees of the 
Cook County Auxiliary of the State Council of Defense. 

Similar co-operation was given to the war work of the Young 
Men's Christian Association, the Knights of Columbus, and the Jewish 
Welfare Board. The Council's support also went to the Military En- 
tertainment Council, and helped much in enabling that organization to 
sell more than $100,000 worth of "Smileage" Books in Illinois, 
which served as tickets of admission to soldiers and sailors at camp 
entertainments where admissions were charged. The Council also gave 
hearty support to the Salvation Army campaign for war funds. The 
Cook County Auxiliary of the Council practically managed the Salva- 
tion Army "drive" in Chicago, and similar support down through the 
state enabled that organization to raise $781,941.00, which was nearly 
three times what it expected to raise when the "drive" started. 



XII 

A HELPING HAND TO ILLINOIS BUSINESS 

The Council also feels that it has given aid to the national govern- 
ment in quite another direction, and at the same time has performed a 
service to the manufacturing interests of the state. 

Early in 1918 a situation arose that disclosed these things: (a) 
That the placing of the great bulk of war material orders in the 
eastern States was causing serious delay in the Government's war pro- 
gram; (b) that eastern shops and factories were overcrowded and 
undermanned; (c) that Illinois shops and factories were in many in- 
stances idle and in others running short-time for .lack of essential war 
work (as non-essential work had either been greatly reduced or entirely 
stopped) ; (d) that labor was recruited in Illinois for eastern States 
which could be employed to better advantage on war work here at 
home; (e) that there was ample housing in Illinois manufacturing cities 
for war industries labor, while there was a lack of it in the East, which 
further interfered with the war program. 

A canvas of Illinois manufacturers showed that they were not only 
eager to engage in war work from patriotic motives, but that they were 
equipped to give the Government promptly achieved results; also that 
there had been little concerted effort made at Washington to bring 
war orders to Illinois. Therefore, both for the good of the national 
defense and for the good of ilhnois' busmess mterests, the Council 
called a meeting of the manufacturers of Illinois to consider the situa- 
tion in all its phases, to decide what was the best thing to do and then 
apply the ways and means for doing it. 

Real and Important Results Achieved 

This meeting was held at the Chicago headquarters of the Council 
on March 15th, 1918. It was attended by representatives of all the 
commercial and manufacturing organizations of the State, and by a 
large number of individual manufacturers. There was a full dis- 
cussion, the upshot of which was the appointment of a War Business 
Committee to work out a program and put it into effect. 

This committee achieved the following things : (a) brought about 
team work among Illinois manufacturers in seeking war work; (b) 
established much closer relations between the manufacturers of the 
Mississippi valley and the Government departments which had author- 
ity to award war contracts; (c) made a detailed survey of the manu- 
facturing resources and facilities of the entire State, county by county, 

65 



66 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

and reported it to the Washington authorities; (d) established a war 
industries bureau at Washington with a staff of salesmen who kept in 
close touch with all Government departments. 

The work done by this committee was most effective. Through 
this committee's efforts $510,000,000 worth of war business was 
brought to Illinois. By means of these contracts, factories and shops 
which had been threatened with the hard necessity of shutting down 
were kept open and busy and thousands of men who might otherwise 
have been compelled to go to other States to do essential war work 
were kept at home at good wages. More important than any of this, 
however, Illinois was thus enabled to make a business contribution to 
the prosecution of the war in keeping with the importance of her in- 
dustries, in addition to buying bonds and paying taxes. (See Appendix 
XXX.) 



XIII 

FOR MILITARY. NAVAL AND CIVILIAN HEALTH 

Under the general direction of its Committee on Sanitation, 
Medicine and Public Health, the Council performed a double function ; 
It aided materially in supplying the Army and Navy with capable 
and efficient surgeons and physicians and dentists ; it aided in the 
preservation of health, amongst both the civilian population of the 
State and the men of the Army and Navy in training within the State. 

Medical Profession Organized for War 

As soon as the Council was organized the chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Sanitation, Medicine and Public Health effected organiza- 
tion of the medical fraternity throughout the State, by counties, to aid 
in securing for the uniformed service of the Government the State's 
quota of surgeons and physicians. A like organization was effected by 
the Dental Advisory Committee. Available surgeons and physicians 
thus mobilized were called to service from time to time, and the re- 
mainder of available men were registered and ready to be called. Thus 
Illinois was prepared to do her full share in furnishing men for surgi- 
cal and dental services to the nation. It should be said in behalf of 
the men of these professions that little or no organization effort or 
persuasion was needed, as they volunteered almost unanimously. (See 
Appendix XXXI.) 

In an advisory capacity, the Committee on Sanitation, Medicine 
and Public Health was able to do much. One of its early activities 
was to make a survey, under the personal direction of its chairman, of 
the health and sanitary conditions at the U. S. Naval Training Station, 
Great Lakes, Illinois, in May, 1917. The abnormal increase of the 
number of recruits there, and the inability of the Government to main- 
tain a building pace equal to that increase, caused a serious condition. 
The report of the Council's Committee served to quiet the fears of the 
families of recruits and was also of great value to the Government. 

Health Work in Many Directions 

The chairman of the committee, Dr. Frank Billings, was called to 
the service of his country (first, in August, 1917, as head of the Red 
Cross Mission to Russia and, shortly after his return, to service in 
Washington as a colonel in the medical service), but upon his recom- 
mendation an advisory committee was named by the Council, which 
became the adivsor of the Council in all health and sanitary matters. 
(See Appendix XXXI.) 

67 



68 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Throughout the war period, the Council and the soldiers and sail- 
ors furnished by Illinois had the close co-operation and invaluable 
aid of the Advisory Committee on Social Hygiene. As a branch of the 
Red League, the purpose of this organization was to educate and 
warn the men in the uniformed service of the dangers of venereal 
diseases. Through pictures, literature, lectures and exhibits, every 
Illinois man in either the Army or the Navy was reached, with very 
gratifying results. 

Another advisory committee on the general subject of health and 
sanitation was that on Mental Hygiene. The Illinois Society for 
Mental Hygiene offered its entire organization for this service under 
the Council. 

The Council acknowledges its obligations to these organizations, 
and commends them for valuable and patriotic services. (See Ap- 
pendix XXXI.) 



XIV 
"PROFITEERING IN PATRIOTISM" CHECKED 

An important task of the Council was to supervise the collection 
of funds for war aid and relief, and to prevent impostors from gull- 
ing the public in the name of the nation's defenders. 

Almost contemporaneous with the creation of the Council the 
General Assembly enacted a law prohibiting the solicitation of funds, 
goods and articles of value for war aid or relief unless those making 
the collection should be licensed by this Council, with certain excep- 
tions. The exceptions were : the American Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A., 
the Knights of Columbus the Jewish Welfare Board, the Salvation 
Army and other like bodies which had been recognized by the United 
States Government; the immediate family, dependents or friends of 
a soldier or sailor; ^any church, club or fraternal organization soliciting 
among its own members only. 

This law became effective July 1, 1917, and the Council established 
a License Bureau, under the direction of a duly authorized committee, 
to enforce it. In general it was willingly obeyed, although the Council 
was called upon to prevent much fraudulent solicitation, and to stop 
many undertakings which seemed to promise returns entirely in- 
adequate to the cost and effort. 

In war times the people who stay at home are generous to aid 
those who are doing the fighting, and a large number of people can 
always be found who will contribute to any project purporting to be 
for a worthy cause without inquiring closely into the worthiness of the 
solicitors. Also there are always unscrupulous persons who will abuse 
charity to make a few dollars for themselves. Through the vigilance 
of the Council's License Bureau virtually all of those who sought to 
prey upon the generous and kindly disposed people of Illinois were 
detected and prevented. Also there is another class, animated by good 
intentions but who propose projects in which the overhead expenses 
practically absorb the receipts ; these, too, were denied the privilege 
of working upon the sympathies of the public at large. 

License Bureau's Tangible Results 

It took time to put the License Bureau's machinery into effective 
operation. A great many enterprises involving solicitation of funds 
and therefore subject to the licensing law, were already under way 
when the law became applicable on July 1, 1917. The License Bureau 
had to overtake these enterprises, bring them into compliance with the 
law with as little friction as possible and then apply its regulations 
to them while it was still in the midst of framing its own regulations 
and creating the machinery for enforcing them. In these circumstances 

69 



70 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

it is remarkable that, during its first year, the bureau licensed and 
supervised the solicitation, collection and administration of war aid 
and rehef funds amounting to $3,425,662.01. 

During its second year, although solicitation enterprises diminished 
in number after the armistice and sharply declined in the spring of 
1919, the licensees of the bureau collected an aggregate of 
$5,415,90378. 

These figures do not include contributions to certain organizations 
with headquarters outside of Illinois, which were licensed to solicit in 
this state, but which did not, in their accounting, separate Illinois 
receipts from funds collected elsewhere. Therefore, it is a conser\'a- 
tive estimate to say that the bureau, in two years, licensed and super- 
vised the collection of considerably more than $10,000,000. Admin- 
istration and distribution expense of the various funds licensed by 
the bureau averaged only approximately 10^ per cent. 

The bureau handled, all told. 1499 applications for licenses and in 
the two years to July 1, 1919, 1045 enterprises were approved and 
licensed. 

It is an interesting fact that licensees of the bureau still have in 
their possession, and undistributed, funds to the imposing amount of 
$1,269,590.87. (See Appendix XXXII.) 



XV 

WAR RECORDS AND WAR HISTORY 

The State Council of Defense believes it has completed every 
definite task committed to it, or undertaken by it, except one ; and 
completion of that one by a competent agency has been provided for. 

The Council was so absorbed in the pressing daily work of the 
war period — the tangible tasks incident to winning the war — that it 
did not take up creation of adequate machinery for preserving the 
war records and war history material of the state until late in the 
Summer of 1918. The subject was brought up at one of the regular 
weekly meetings of departmental executives and a committee was 
delegated to investigate the subject. It was decided that the work 
involved should include much more than a mere collection of dry 
statistics and obvious war records in detail. As a report of the pre- 
liminary committee expressed it : 

"The universal plea of tomorrow will be : 'Tell us about the Great War.' 
Men and women feeling its results will seek to know its origin, growth and 
consummation. Materials for the story, if not the story itselt, must be 
accurate, rich in detail, unbiased and living. The story cannot be fully told in 
the records of Army and Navy, in national returns on Liberty Loans, or in 
financial reports. It must be told in human terms — pieced like an old fashioned 
quilt from the story of service flags. Every clipping from the village newspaper, 
telling of John Brown's enlistment and the bridging of the gap he left behmd, 
is an expression of what the war is and means. Pamphlets, pledge cards, 
proclamations, posters and letters give the record." 

To give proper dignity and strength to this undertaking, the Coimcil 
added a War History Committee to its list of standing committees. 
An Advisory Committee on War History was created to handle the 
details. 

The Advisory Committee's work was only well started at armis- 
tice time. An official bulletm was sent to all of the County Auxiliary 
Committees, advising them of the Council's purpose in respect to war 
history materials and laying out for them a working program adaptable 
to their respective counties and local commtmities. The work was 
taken up inmiediately in probably one-third of the counties. Another 
bulletin, similar in purpose, was sent to librarians, educators and all 
others known to be actively interested in historical research, several 
thousand in all ; hence, although not all of the county organizations 
responded, almost every community in the state had notice of what the 
Council was undertaking to do and had somebody on the ground 
who could be depended upon to take hold. The Illinois State His- 
torical Library was of great assistance in these inaugural steps. 

71 



72 state council of defense 

Functions Transferred to State Historical Library 

When the Council's county and other subsidiary organizations were 
released, the War History Committee was, of course, left without 
machinery with which to operate. Nevertheless, it is believed the 
ground work for the collection and preservation of war records and 
history materials throughout the state had been well laid. Records 
of the Council itself, now among the archives of the State of Illinois, 
are, of course, a mine of material bearing upon almost all phases of 
the war that touched the people of this state. 

The Illinois State Historical Library, by formal vote of its trus- 
tees, had already extended co-operation to the Committee and con- 
sented to act as a central depository for all records and materials that 
might be collected. Therefore, the Advisory Committee recommended, 
the Council's committee concurring, that further collection and pres- 
ervation of war records and war history material be made a function 
of the Illinois State Historical Library and that the General Assembly 
be asked to provide whatever funds might be required. 

The Council is advised that the General Assembly has made an 
appropriation for this purpose and has provided further appropria- 
tion for compiling the history of the Thirty-third Division of the 
National Army, which was in effect an entire division of Illinois 
troops and which made such a brilliant record in the closing months 
of the war all along the Allied front from the Meuse River to 
Belgium. Therefore the Council feels that while the specific task of its 
War History Committee was not completed, the work which it inaugu- 
rated was important, was given a good start, and has been left in 
competent hands. (See Appendix XXXIII.) 



i 



XVI 

NEW LAWS INSPIRED BY THE COUNCIL 

_ One of the duties imposed upon the Council by the Act creating 
It was "to recommend to the Governor and the General Assembly 
laws necessary to the common defense or the public welfare." 

When actual warfare in Europe ceased, there was no longer 
occasion or reason for the Council to recommend war measures to the 
consideration of the General Assembly; but the experience of the 
Council did suggest the desirability of legislation, for peace time on 
certain subjects which wartime stress had made conspicuous The 
conclusions drawn from these experiences were embodied in a reso- 
lution adopted at the last meeting of the Council for the transaction 
ot general business, which took place on January 18, 1919. The reso- 
lution was as follows : 

''Whereas one of the duties imposed by law upon tlie State Coun- 
cil of Defense of Illinois is to recommend the enactment of laws perti- 
nent to the purposes for which said Council was created. 

, t',7'''?^u°^\ ^^ ^'" Resolved, That the State Council of Defense 
of Illinois hereby recommends to the Governor and to the General 
Assembly of Illinois the enactment of laws necessary to give effect to the 
following conclusions : 

;'l. Because the English language is the common as well as the 
official language of our country, and because it is essential to good 
citizenship that each citizen shall have or speedily acquire as his 
natural tongue, the language in which the laws of the land, the decrees 
ot the courts and the proclamations and pronouncements of its officials 
are made, and shall easily and naturally think m the language in which 
the obligations of his citizenship are defined, it is the sense of this 
Council that the teaching of the common branches of education fas 
reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, common grammar and 
sio'I^ld S7in '?h°%^ .n.theelen.entary grades of all schLls in niinois 
shnnHK^K 1 English anguage, and that such teaching in English 
should be by law made obligatory. 

"2. Because the Americanization of aliens is greatly advanced when 
they acquire familiarity with the common language of our c^un" 
try, and because this acquisition of our language is helpful to every 
individual in every industry and greatly lesrens^iability to accidents 
It IS the sense of this Council that the general scheme of oublic ednra 
^Z^'^'T^^r' }^'\''^'' should, by means of ^venng cases ^ 
acqi sit?on°°o? The tTu'l ^''^"^^^ ^'^ ^^^^^^^-s'^-S and facilitating 
after Dass^nJthlLf''' language by aliens who have come here 
atter^ passing the age of compulsory attendance at school. 

"3. Because sound bodies contribute to the value of citizenshio 
essen public susceptibility to diseases of a general charac er and 
thereby advance the common good by producing a higher stSe of ^ubHc 
health. It IS the sense of this Council that there fhould be °ncCed 
m the curriculum of all the elementarv schools of he state courses 
rZ^n"Au\'T^' '^' P"P'i^ ^^^'''' °f cleanliness, temperance and the 
Sh l ^°K,^' ^"^ toi^fo.^"! them of the need to maintain the pub c 
health as an obligation of citizenship. puouc 

73 



74 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

"4. Because it is highly advisable that each mature citizen of the 
state shall have some vocation as a means of livelihood, it is the 
sense of this Council that provision should be made by law for the 
expansion of vocational training in the schools of the state. 

"5. Because worthy aid and relief projects, depending for support 
upon funds secured by public subscription, are prejudiced and damaged 
by the ease with which fraudulent aid and relief projects can be 
exploited in normal times, and because it is desirable that funds con- 
tributed for aid and relief should be used in great part for aid and 
relief purposes, instead of being diverted to pay extravagant 'com- 
missions' or wasted in excessive costs of administration, it is the 
sense of this Council that solicitation of funds by public subscription 
of every character should be under state supervision and that all un- 
authorized and unlicensed public solicitation of funds, or the equivalent, 
should be prohibited under proper penalties." 

Action by General Assembly 

This resolution was, by order of the Council, forwarded to the 
Governor and to the presiding officers of House and Senate of the 
General Assembly. Bills giving effect to all five recommendations 
were promptly introduced in the General Assembly and were passed. 
The Governor promptly approved the bills on the four subjects first 
named, but (reluctantly, the Council believes) vetoed the fifth. The 
vetoed bill was intended to make permanent the wholesome supervision 
over public solicitation of funds and goods which had been exercised 
by the License Bureau of the State Council of Defense. Unfortunately, 
the bill was so drawn that many persons who recognized the highly 
commendable purpose of it yet feared it would interfere unwarrantably 
with some entirely worthy undertakings, and on that account the 
Governor withheld his approval. 

The purpose of the new statutes pertaining to elementary teaching 
in English and to utilization of public school facilities for teaching 
the English language to the foreign-born speaks for itself. 

The need of more attention in the public schools to the subject of 
personal hygiene was emphasized by the somewhat startling number 
of physically defective young men disclosed by examinations under 
the selective service law. 

The desirability of more attention to vocational training was also 
emphasized by war experience. 

The Council is gratified to have been in some measure responsible 
for the enactment of laws on these subjects. 



XVII 
WINDING UP THE COUNCIL ACTIVITIES 

The reason for existence of the State Council of Defense and the 
usefuhiess of it did not cease abruptly when the armistice with Ger- 
many was signed, on November 11, 1918. Throughout the days and 
weeks of high tension immediately following that event, when the 
whole world was nervously absorbing the scope and exact meaning 
of the armistice terms, the Council was needed to hold the civilian lines 
taut, as the Army and Navy in active service were holding their 
lines. When it became clear that the armistice amounted to uncon- 
ditional surrender by Germany, and that active warfare would not and 
could not be renewed, then reason for continued activity by the 
Council ended. 

From the States' Section of the Council of National Defense and 
from other Washington sources, many suggestions came which looked 
toward conversion of this and other state councils into peace-time 
organizations for after-the-war reconstruction. This Council was 
unable to see the situation in that light. 

The State Council of Defense of Illinois was created and organized 
specifically for a war-time purpose. Its state organization was erected 
to cope with necessities of war time, and no others. The men and 
women who constituted that organization had been literally enlisted — 
and even drafted, but drafted with their prompt consent — as for war. 
The tasks laid upon them had been war tasks. The weight of those 
tasks, which were never light, had been borne with a willingness and a 
devotion that only the call of one's country in time of dire war need 
would inspire. 

In these circumstances, the Council believed that its duty to the 
state, to itself, and to the men and women who had worked so faith- 
fully under it without hope or desire of reward beyond satisfaction 
in the work itself, clearly lay in "demobilizing" its army at the earliest 
possible date and in the fullest sense of the term. Consequently, it 
proceeded to demobilize its organization and to liquidate its business as 
rapidly as orderly procedure would permit. 

Council Organizations "Honorably Discharged" 

Organizations which the State Council had built to do some specific 
thing for the federal government, of which the Commercial Economy 
Administration and the Non-War Construction Bureau were conspicu- 
ous examples, stopped work automatically when the government, soon 
after the armistice, lifted the restrictions with the execution of which 
they were concerned. 

In an official bulletin, issued by the Chairman of the Council and 
the Chairman of the Counties Auxiliary on December 2, 1918, the 
state-wide organization by counties was honorably discharged. This 

75 



76 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

included honorable discharge of county executive committees, county 
finance committees, county auxiliary committees, and all other repre- 
sentatives of Council departments and organizations which operated by 
counties. 

The Cook County Auxiliary Committee was officially dissolved 
and its members honorably discharged by an official bulletin issued 
on December 20, 1918. 

The Committee on Military Affairs, Local and State Defense, closed 
up its work and turned over all organizations under its direction to the 
Adjutant General's office on December 31, 1918. 

The Woman's Committee terminated its operations as a subsidiary 
of the State Council of Defense early in January, 1919, but continued 
to function in connection with certain phases of reconstruction work as 
the Illinois Division of the Woman's Committee of the Council of 
National Defense. 

The speakers' bureau of the Woman's Committee took over the 
records and files of the Unified Bureau of Public Speakers of the 
Council, which ceased operations on January 15, 1919. 

The Publicity Department continued publication of the State Coun- 
cil News until December 13, 1918, as a means of carrying the Coun- 
cil's various steps in liquidation to the organization throughout the 
state. To discharge a similar purpose in respect to the entire popula- 
tion, the Department's news and editorial service to the daily and 
weekly newspapers was continued until February 8, 1919. 

All other auxiliary and subsidiary organizations of the Council 
ceased work and wound up affairs in hand as the Council itself 
terminated, one by one, all of its war-time activities. 
One Meeting and Then — Finis 

The headquarters of the Council, at 120 West Adams Street, 
Chicago, was closed on February 15, 1919, by order of the Council 
voted at the meeting held on January 18, 1919, which was the last 
meeting of the Comicil for the transaction of general business. There- 
after, a skeleton organization was maintained at 72 West Adams 
Street, Chicago, to care for uncompleted minor details of Council 
business, and to answer questions, the public having acquired the 
habit during the life of the Council of coming to it for information 
on every conceivable subject directly or indirectly pertaining to the war. 

The License Bureau of the Council was continued in full opera- 
tion when all other activities were suspended, because it filled a real 
need in the state, pending the expected enactment of legislation trans- 
ferring its powers and functions to some department of state govern- 
ment. The bill for that purpose having failed to become a law, as 
described in the preceding chapter, the License Bureau continued to 
function during the life of the Council itself. 

When this report was written, the State Council of Defense of 
Illinois was practically a liquidated concern. Its official life could not 
be ended under the terms of the Act by which it was created prior to 
issuance of the official peace proclamation by the President of the 
United States. W^hen that proclamation was issued, the Council met 
in formal session, transferred its official records to the keeping of the 
state and adjourned sine die. 



APPENDIX I 



A BILL 
For an Act to establish a state council of defense, and making an appropriation 

therefor. 



Section I. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented 
in the General Assembly : There is hereby established a State Council of 
Defense. 

§2. The State Council of Defense shall consist of fifteen persons who shall 
be appointed by the Governor and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
Their term of office shall be for the duration of the war in which the United 
States is now engaged, and no longer. The Governor shall designate the membef 
who shall act as chairman. 

§3. The members of the State Council of Defense shall be appointed with 
reference to their special knowledge of labor, industries, public utilities, the 
development of natural resources, sanitation, finance, transportation, or some 
other subject matter relating to National or State defense. 

§4. It shall be the duty of the State Council of Defense : 

(1) To co-operate with and assist the Council of National Defense in the 
execution of the duties prescribed by an Act of Congress of the United States 
approved August 29, 1916, entitled, "An Act making appropriations for the sup- 
port of the army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and 
seventeen and for other purposes," or any Act amendatory thereof or sup- 
plemental or additional thereto; 

(2) To co-operate with councils of defense in other states in so far as such 
co-operation is in harmony with the policies of the Council of National Defense; 

(3) To carry out within the State of Illinois such plans of national defense 
as are mutually agreed upon between it and the Council of National Defense; 

(4) To recommend to the Governor and to the General Assembly the enact- 
ment of such laws as are, in its judgment, necessary, in time of war, to the com- 
mon defense or the public welfare. 

§5. The State Council of Defense shall have power: 

(1) To adopt rules for its internal government and procedure; 

(2) To form advisory and other committees outside of its membership; 

(3) To organize subordinate bodies for its assistance in special investiga- 
tions ; 

(4) To appoint, without reference to the State civil service law, experts, 
stenographers and clerks and to fix their compensation ; 

(5) To make full investigation as to all questions directly or indirectly 
relating to or bearing upon the powers or duties vested in it by this Act, and to 
subpoena witnesses and to require their testimony and to compel the production 
of account books and files and all papers and documents relevant to any investi- 
gation or matter which may be under consideration by it. 

§6. The members of the State Council of Defense shall serve without 
compensation, but the actual and necessary expenses of the members thereof, 
incurred in tlie discharge of duties under this Act, shall be a proper and legiti- 
mate charge against the appropriation hereinafter made. 

77 



78 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

§7. All officers, departments, institutions and agencies of the State gov- 
ernment, and all local and municipal officers, shall co-operate with and render 
such aid and assistance as the State Council of Defense may require. 

§8. The Secretary of State shall provide the State Council of Defense 
with suitably furnished rooms in the capitol. The Superintendent of Printing 
or the Department of Public Works and Buildings after July 1, 1917, shall fur- 
nish it with all necessary printing, binding, stationery and office supplies. 

§9. In case of the refusal of any person to comply with any subpoena 
issued hereunder or to testify to any matter regarding which he may be inter- 
rogated or to produce account books, files, papers and documents relative to any 
investigation being conducted by the State Council of Defense, any circuit court 
of this State, or any judge thereof, either in term time or in vacation, upon the 
application of the State Council of Defense, or any member thereof, shall issue 
an order requiring such person to comply with such subpoena, or to testify, or to 
produce account books, files, papers and documents, or either, and any failure to 
obey such order of the court, or judge thereof, may be punished by the court as 
a contempt of court. 

§10. The sum of fifty thousand dollars is hereby appropriated for the 
purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act. The Auditor of Public 
Accounts shall draw his warrant for the sum hereby appropriated upon the pre- 
sentation of vouchers certified to by the chairman of the State Council of 
Defense and approved by the Governor. 

§11. Whereas, an emergency exists, therefore this Act shall take eiTect 
from and after its passage. 

Approved by the Governor, May 2, 1917. 



APPENDIX II 



Resolution by the State Council of Defense on the Death 
OF John P. Hopkins 

John P. Hopkins, member and Secretary of the State Council 
of Defense of IlHnois from its organization, passed away on 
Sunday, October 13, 1918. 

To his fellow members of the Council his death was a tre- 
mendous shock. Each and all feel that thereby the public service 
of America and the War service of Illinois have suffered a heavy 
loss. His devoted energy, his splendid intelligence and his clean, 
vnifailing, unwavering patriotism were given to the service of the 
Council in unstinted measure. It was characteristic of the man 
that he should regard service to his State and his Country as the 
most compelling obligation of his life, and that in the performance 
of that service he would give his utmost powers, disregarding 
health, personal comfort and personal interest. 

By the death of John P. Hopkins, the members of this Council 
have lost more than an ardent, resourceful fellow-worker; each 
has lost also a friend whose counsel was wise, whose companion- 
ship was wholesome, enlightening and enjoyable, and whose de- 
pendability was unquestioned under all circumstances ; 

Therefore, it is resolved, by the State Council of Defense 
of Illinois, that Illinois and America should revere the 
memory of John P. Hopkins as one who served his State 
and his Country with an undivided heart, with a clean soul 
and with all his strength, even unto his death ; and that this 
Council, in continuing its work, will keep always in mind the 
spirit, the devotion and the sacrifice of John P. Hopkins, as 
the highest testimonial which we, the members of the Council 
can make to his worth and character. 



79 



APPENDIX III 

RULES, OFFICERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE 
STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE OF ILLINOIS 

The report of the State Council's Special Committee on Rules, etc., which 
was adopted at the second meeting of said Council on May 12, 1917, provided 
for officers and standing committees, and prescribed their duties, as follows : 

Officers and Assistants 

There shall be a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary of the 
Council. The Chairman is designated as such by the Governor from among the 
members of the Council. The Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be 
members of the Council, shall be elected by the Council on May 12, 1917, and 
shall hold office at the pleasure of the Council. Vacancies may be filled at any 
time by the Council. 

The Council or the chairman shall from time to time appoint such assistant 
officers, experts, stenographers, clerks and employees as the Council or chairman 
may deem proper. Unless the Council or chairman shall otherwise designate in 
writing at the time of their appointment, such assistant officers, experts, 
stenographers, clerks and employees shall be employed for no particular period 
of time. All said assistant officers, experts, stenographers, clerks and employees 
may be discharged, removed or suspended at any time by the Council or 
chairman. 

Duties of Officers 

The Chairman of the Council shall have the general supervision and manage- 
ment of the business and affairs of the Council and of the assistant officers and 
employees thereof, but subject always to the direction and control of the 
Council. The Chairjnan shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall 
be ex-officio a member of all the committees hereinafter named. He shall have 
such other powers and discharge such other duties as may from time to time be 
prescribed by the Council. 

The Vice-Chairman shall have all the powers and discharge all of the 
duties of the Chairman in case of the death, sickness, absence or inability to act 
of the Chairman. He shall have such other powers and discharge such other 
duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Council. 

The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all moneys that come into his 
possession, custody and control as Treasurer, and he shall pay out and disburse 
the same upon vouchers signed by the Chairman. He shall have the right to 
himself select and appoint an assistant, but the Treasurer shall be responsible for 
such assistant. The Treasurer shall give such bond for the faithful discharge of 
his duties as the Council may prescribe. He shall discharge all the duties and 
have all the powers usually pertaining to such an officer, and shall have such 
other powers and discharge such other duties as may from time to time be pre- 
scribed by the Council. 

The Secretary shall be the official custodian of the corporate records and 
seal of the Council, and shall discharge all the duties and have all the powers 
usually pertaining to such an office. He shall have such other powers and dis- 
charge such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Council. 

All assistant officers and employees of the Council shall discharge such duties 
as may from time to time be prescribed by the Council or the Chairman. 

Committees and Their Powers 

The Council shall appoint from its own members, on May 12, 1917, Commit- 
tees of three members each (all of whom shall serve without compensation) as 
follows : 

80 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 81 

Auditing Committee — This Committee shall audit and pass upon all accountf 
for expenses and dishursements, and discharge all other duties usually apper- 
taining to such a Committee. 

Co-Ordination of Societies CoiiiDiittec — The function of this Committee shall 
be the co-ordination with the Council of the activities of all bodies pursuing 
purposes in the State of Illinois that come within the field of the Council. 

Food, Fuel and Conservation Committee* — The production, conservation, 
supply, distribution, transportation and price of food, fuel and other basic com- 
modities, the avoidance of waste, and all other allied subjects are assigned to 
this Committee. 

Industrial Survey Committee — The purposes of this Committee are, to 
make a survey of the manufacturing and industrial plants in Illinois and to 
supplement the industrial survey in Illinois of the Council of National Defense. 
The survey of this Committee shall be broad enough in scope to include all 
industries effective for war purposes. This Committee shall also have such 
other powers as pertain to allied subjects. 

Labor Committee — This Committee is concerned with the supply, distribution 
and welfare of labor. 

Law and Legislation Committee — This Committee shall have charge of all 
matters of law and legislation pertaining to the Council or pertaining to the 
Council in its relations to or in co-ordination with the Council of National 
Defense and the Councils of Defense of other States. This Committee will 
advise the Council and all of its Committees on all legal and legislative matters. 

Military Affairs and State and Local Defense Committee — The primary duty 
of this Committee will be to co-operate with the Federal Government in the 
creation of a National Army. It shall also deal with whatever National Guard, 
State Guard, Militia, Provisional or volunteer military organizations that are 
at present created or may be authorized. It shall also, in co-operation with the 
Federal Government, concern itself with aiding in recruiting and assisting in 
the selecting and procuring of camp sites and facilities. 

This committee shall also be concerned with the keeping of a watchful over- 
sight upon all important points of possible danger to the State, with the idea of 
planning and providing necessary military or civil protection. The Committee 
shall also deal with all allied matters pertaining to the National, State and 
local defense. 

Publicity Committee — All matters of publicity pertaining to the Council, and 
all other allied subjects, are assigned to this Committee. 

Sanitation, Medicine and Public Health Committee — This Committee shall 
deal with all matters relating to hygiene, medicine, sanitation and public health. 

Survey of Man Power Committee — This Committee shall, in co-operation 
with or supplemental to, the Federal Government, deal with the method of 
registration and ascertainment of the man-power of the State. 

Women's Organizations Committee — The function of this Committee shall 
be the co-ordination and utilization of women's organizations working in fields 
similar to those of the Council. 

General Powers and Duties of Committees 

In order to assist said Committees in performing their functions, each of 
said Committees is empowered, by and with the consent and approval of the 
Council, to appoint or organize assisting Committees or sub-Committees com- 
posed of persons outside of the members of the Council. All members of said 
assisting or sub-Committees shall serve without compensation. 

The work, activities, reports and conclusions of all officers, committees, 
advisory committees, assisting committees or sub-committees shall be subject to 
the final control and supervision of the Council and shall not represent or be 
binding upon the Council until approved by it. 



When the Federal Fuel Administration established control over all fuel matters, the 
name of this Committee was changed by amendment of the Rules to: "Food Production and 
Conservation Committee." 



82 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Officers Elected and Committees Appointed 

In pursuance of the foregoing provisions under the head of "Officers and 
Assistants," officers of tlie Council were installed on May 12, 1917, and com- 
mittees were appointed (then and afterward), as follows: 

OFFICERS 

Chairman Samuel Insull 

Vice-Chairman B. F. Harris 

Secretary John P. Hopkins* 

Treasurer J. Ogden Armour 

committees 

Auditing Industrial Survey 

David E. Shanahan, Chairman John P. Hopkins*, Chairman 

John H. Walker John A. Spoor 

John P. Hopkms* Victor A. Olander 

Co-Ordination of Societies 
Fred W. Upham, Chairman Labor 

Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen John H. Walker, Chairman 

John H. Walker John H. Harrison 

Food, Fuel and Conservation"^ ^'■- ^rank Billings 
J. Ogden Armour, Chairman 

John A. Spoor Sanitation, Medicine and Public Health 

B. F. Harris t-, t7 r> ^r • 

Dr. I^rank Billings, Chairman 

Law and Legislation Charles H. Wacker 

Levy Mayer, Chairman Fred W. Upham 

John G. Oglesby 

David E. Shanahan e x t\j n 

ciurvey of Man Power 

Military Affairs and State and Local Victor A. Olander, Chairman 
T r r^ J-'<^tense j^^^^ -^ Harrison 

John G. Oglesby, Chairman y~, , tt -iir i 

Dr. Frank Billings Charles H. Wacker 

David E. Shanahan 

^ ,,. . Woman's Organisations 

Publicity 

Samuel Insull, Chairman Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, Chairman 

John H. Harrison Charles H. Wacker 

Victor A. Olander Fred W. Upham 

War History Committeet 

Samuel Insull, Chairman 

Charles H. Wacker Roger C. Sullivan 

John H. Walker Victor A. Olander 

•Mr. John P. Hopkins died on October 13, 1918. To fill the vacancy thus cre- 
ated, Governor Lowden appointed Mr. Roger C. Sullivan on October 23, 1918. 
Mr. Sullivan assumed his duties at the meeting of the Council held October 25, 
and was elected Secretary of the Council and assigned to the committeeships for- 
merly held by Mr. Hopkins. 

tChanged to Food Production and Conservation Committee, as previously noted. 

JAdded to list of standing committees by amendment of the rules. 

Assistant Secretary Provided 

To organize the office and working force, the Council, on May 19, 1917, 
elected Mr. E. W. Lloyd Assistant Secretary. Mr. Lloyd continued in this position 
until he was appointed executive head of the Non-War Construction Bureau on 
September 17, 1918. 

Mr. George F. Mitchell was elected Assistant Secretary of the Council on 
October 4, 1918, and served in that capacity until the Council was dissolved. 



APPENDIX IV 

FINAL REPORT OF THE COUNTIES AUXILIARY AND NEIGHBOR- 
HOOD COMMITTEE OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

February 5, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

Pursuant to your instructions, herewith is presented the final report of the 
Counties Auxiliary and the Neighborhood Committee of the State Council of 
Defense of IlHnois. 

The Counties Auxiliary 

Organized on October 1, 1917, with Mr. F. W. Butterworth of Danville as 
Chairman (resigned May 3, 1918, to handle certain technical industrial problems 
for the federal government), and Mr. Walter S. Brewster of Chicago as 
Secretary — and the Neighborhood Committee — organized about the middle 
of September, 1917, with Mr. Harold L. Ickes as Chairman, Mr. George W. 
Perkins, Vice-Chairman, and Mr. L. E. Myers, Secretary — were consolidated on 
or about May 1, 1918. Since that time they have been conducted in this ofhce as 
a single department with Mr. Walter S. Brewster as Chairman, and Messrs. 
Emerson B. Tuttle and Secor Cunningham as Secretaries. The process of con- 
solidation in the several counties of the state has been carried on as rapidly as 
possible and has resulted, in a considerable number of the counties, in central- 
izing the control of the various activities in the County Executive Committee. 

Organization of County Auxiliary Committees 

The Counties Auxiliary started its work by organizing in each county of 
the state a County Auxiliary Committee consisting of four men and one woman, 
the latter in every case being the County Chairman of the Woman's Committee 
of the Council of National Defense. A little later a representative of Industrial 
Labor was added to the County Auxiliary Committee in those counties where 
there are any important industries. 

Duties of the County Auxiliary Committees 

The duties of the County Auxiliary Committee were to carry out in its own 
territory such work of the State Council of Defense as was not specifically 
delegated to some other organization; to make a survey of county condition! 
from time to time as directed and to co-operate with all other committees, 
assisting them in their work wherever it might be necessary. One of the most 
important duties assigned to this Committee was to assist in organizing various 
specialized committees of the State Council and some of the Federal Activities. 

Direction Bulletins 

The County Auxiliary Committees have received their instructions from 
this ofifice in the form of Direction Bulletins which have dealt with a great 
variety of subjects as is indicated in the following Index of Bulletins sent out. 

A^o. I — Duties and General Instructions — This had to do purely with organi- 
zation matters, and gave instructions as to the organization of the County 
Auxiliary Committee. 

No. 2 — Neighborhood Sub-Committees — Requested nominations from which 
the executive officers of the Neighborhood Committee might select their County 
Chairmen. 

No. 3 — Second Liberty Loan — Instructed the County Auxiliary Committees 
to give all possible assistance to the Liberty Loan Organization which operated 
under the jurisdiction of the Federal Reserve Bank. 

83 



84 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

No. 4 — Instructing the County Auxiliary Committees to Assist in the Organi- 
sation of the County Committee of the Food, Fuel and Conservation Committee 
(now known as the Food Production and Conservation Committee). 

No. 5 — Publicity — Instructing the County Auxiliary Committees to organize 
a County Publicity Committee in conjunction with the newspapers of the county. 

No. 6 — Industrial Labor — Instructing the County Auxiliary Committee to 
nominate suitable representatives of Industrial Labor to serve on the committee. 

No. 7 — Requesting Advice — To the Federal Fuel Administrator as to the 
personnel of his organization in the several counties. 

No. 8 — Loyalty — Requesting information as to any communities or indi- 
viduals suspected of disloyal or Pro-German sentiments. 

No. 9 — Meetings — Instructions as to the holding of meetings of the various 
committees. 

No. 10 — Foreign Population Survey — Requested reports on colonies of 
foreign populations, and information as to their leaders, etc. 

No. II — Relations With District Fuel Administration Committee — Request- 
ing assistance of the County Auxiliary Committee in financing the expenses of 
the local Fuel Administrators. 

No. 12 — Requesting Bi-Weekly Reports— On general conditions in the county 
on blanks furnished by this office. 

No. IS — General County Organisation — Instructions as to the formation 
of County Executive Committee, and enclosing Organization Chart. 

No. 14 — Requesting County Auxiliary Committees to provide clerical assist- 
ance for the Local Draft Boards. 

No. 15 — Co-operative Delivery — Urging the organization of Co- Operative 
Delivery Systems by the merchants in small and medium sized cities and towns 
in accordance with the recommendation of the Commercial Economy Board of 
the Council of National Defense. 

No. 16 — Requesting the donation of Spyglasses, Binoculars and Telescopes 
for the use of the Navy. 

No. 17 — Survey of Factory Waste — Requesting a survey of the reclamation 
and disposal of waste materials in the industrial establishments. 

No. 18 — War Conference — Invitation to members of the County Com- 
mittees to attend a War Conference which was held in Chicago on January 14 
and IS, 1918. 

No. 18-A — Supplementary instructions on the War Conference. 

No. ig — Raihvay Car Service — Contained advice to shippers and consignees 
designed to relieve the strain on our railroad transportation. 

No. 20 — Enrollment Agents for United States Public Service Reserve — 
Instructing the County Committees to assist in enlisting men for the various 
mechanical departments in the Army. 

No. 21 — Illinois Thrift Week — February 3-10, 19 18 — Urging the County 
Committees to assist the county chairmen of the War Savings Committee in 
their work. 

No. 22 — April 6th — "Illinois Flag Day" — With instructions for patriotic 
observance on this day. 

No. 2S — Assistance to Draft Boards— Again asking for clerical assistance 
to the Local Draft Boards for the transcription and transmittal of occupational 
cards. 

No. 24 — War Business Conference — Asking information with reference to 
manufacturing plants now producing war materials, and a survey of the unused 
industrial facilities of the state which might be used for the production of war 
materials. 

Bulletins to a Mailing List of About 1,450 

In addition to the Bulletins addressed specifically to the County Auxiliary 
Committees, this department has prepared and sent out, not only to the Auxiliary 
Committees, but also to the county chairmen of all of the other committees of 



STATE COUNCIL OP DEFENSE 85 

the State Council and of the various co-operating Federal Agencies, Bulletins 
of instruction over the signature of the Chairman of the State Council of 
Defense; or in other words, to all the members of the County Executive Com- 
mittee, a mailing list of about fourteen hundred and fifteen names. 

iVo. / — County Finance Committee — Giving instructions for the formation in 
each county of the state of a committee which should be the permanent county 
organization for the raising and collection of all money for war purposes, which 
organizations would be available to undertake the money raising campaigns for 
the American Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Liberty Loans, and in fact all of the duly 
recognized war relief activities. 

No. 2 — Red Cross Membership Campaign — Urging all of the State Coun- 
cil War Workers throughout the state to assist in the American Red Cross 
Membership Campaign. 

No. 3 — IVar Relief — Outlining the activities and scope of the American Red 
Cross, and the plan of co-operation of the State Council Organization with 
the Red Cros s and the general conditions governing the solicitation of funds 
for War Relief by individuals or societies and the licensing thereof. 

N'o. 4 — Campaign for Salvation Army War Work — Urging the assistance 
of all State Council workers to the Salvation Army in its campaign for funds 
for war work. 

No. 5 — Income Tax Schedules — Urging the filing of income tax schedules 
during the week, February 18th to 23rd, 1918, in order to relieve the strain on 
the collector's office. 

No. 6 — Official United States War Moving Pictures — Giving information as 
to the showing of the Moving Pictures prepared by the Committee on Public 
Information in Washington, put out in tue State of Illinois by the State 
Council of Defense. 

The State Council acquired from the Committee on Public Informa- 
tion in the early part of 1918, live sets of moving picture reels, graphically 
depicting activities in our training camps. These were exhibited in Chicago, 
Evanston and in twenty-tive counties throughout the state and are still being 
shown. The pictures were put out primarily for educational purposes and to 
enable parents and friends to see the soldiers and sailors in preparation for the 
army and navy. A small admission fee was charged, about sufficient to pay 
expenses and a little more, thus helping to defray current running expenses 
of the county organizations. 

Under the direct supervision of the State Council, "Pershing's Cru- 
saders," another War Picture, was exhibited for two weeks at Orchestra Hall. 
Eleven organizations engaged in war relief work were allowed to retain one- 
third the proceeds of all tickets sold by them. The plan was a success and the 
result was a substantial sum to each organization. 

No. 7 — War Garden Alovonent — Instructing our County Committees to 
co-operate with and assist in the work of the Food Production and Conserva- 
tion Committee in promoting the War Garden Movement. 

N'o. 8 — Necessity for Complete County Organization — Urging the perfecting 
and completing of the organization of the State Council in every county, 
and suggesting that those persons who have been appointed on these com- 
mittees, who cannot devote sufficient time to effectively perform their duties, 
should resign, giving way to some one who will carry on the work effectively. 

No. 9 — Third United States Government Liberty Loan — Calling upon every 
member of every committee in the State Council in each county to assist in 
the flotation of this loan. 

Letters have been received from officials of Liberty Loan Campaign organ- 
ization expressing their appreciation of assistance given by the State Council 
organization. 

No. 10 — Legal Advisory Board — Instructions as to the formation of Legal 
Advisory Committees in each county, to advise drafted men as to their legal 
rights before entering into service. 

No. II — Tuberculosis War Problem — Instructions as to formation of Medi- 
cal Committees in each county to deal with this important subject. 



86 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

No. 12 — Illinois IVar Sewings Pledge JVcck — Urging co-operation with the 
War Savings Committee in carrying on this campaign. 

No. IS — Educational Week — May nth to iStli, Inclusive — This campaign 
carried on in co-operation with the Educational Institutions of the state was 
for the purpose of encouraging the young people to continue their studies until 
such time as the Government shall call for their services. 

No. 14 — Red Cross Campaign Week — May 20th to May 27th — Urging full 
co-operation with the American Red Cross in its second War Fund Campaign. 

Red Cross War Fund officials have assured us that the assistance of our 
County Committees has been of great value. 

No. 15 — Coal Week — June 3rd to 8th — Setting forth the program adopted 
by the Illinois Fuel Administrator with reference to the coal problem, for the 
purpose of preventing a coal famine during the coming winter. 

No. 16 — Meetings for Drafted Men — With instructions as to the holding of 
meetings for drafted men under the auspices of the Legal Advisory Boards, 
Medical Advisory Committees, and Red Cross Home Service Section. 

No. 17 — Recruits for the U. S. Marine Corps — Urging the assistance of our 
County Organizations in recruiting men for the United States Marine Corps. 

A^o. iS — Independence Dav Celebration — Stating the resolution passed by 
the STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE with reference to the observance of 
the Fourth of July, and recommendation for the celebration thereof. 

No. ig — National War Savings Day — June 28, 1918 — Urging the co-operation 
with the War Savings Committee in the sale of War Savings and Thrift Stamps. 

Questionnaires — On April 5th a questionnaire was sent out to all County 
Auxiliary Committees requesting information as to organization. 

On June 24th a questionnaire requesting information as to assistance given 
by Legal Advisory and Medical Committees for drafted men was sent out. 

No. 20 — Curtailment of Unnecessary Enterprises: Thrift and Economy — ■ 
Urging County Committees to co-operate with War Industries Board in cur- 
tailing construction not actually essential for the winning of the war. 

No. 21 — Proposed War Conference — A canvass of the county committees 
regarding members that could be counted on to attend a proposed War Con- 
ference some time in November. 

No. 22 — Conservation of the Business Interests of the Men with the Colors 
— Requesting the County Executive Committees to enlist the co-operation of 
the public in protecting the business interests of men in the service. 

No. 23 — Co.Ordination — Transmitting the wish of President Wilson that 
all war activities, federal and otherwise, utilize the State Council system rather 
than to extend their own organizations or form new ones. Suggesting that any 
members of committees who cannot devote the necessary time to carry on the 
work successfully, should resign and give way to some one who can. 

No. 24 — Alien Enemy Property — Enlisting aid for the Alien Property Cus- 
todian in locating alien enemy property. 

No. 25 — Commercial Economy Administration — Asking for the recommenda- 
tions of the County Executive Committees for County Administrators for the 
Commercial Economy Administration, a new department created by the State 
Council of Defense. 

No. 26 — Discouraging the E.rchange of Liberty Bonds for Merchandise and 
Other Securities. 

_ No. 27~C hautauquas—A general commendation of the patriotic service 
which is being performed by Chautauquas. 

No. 28 — Registration Day — Urging County Committees to give the widest 
possible publicity to Registration Day, and to do everything in their power to 
make it a day of patriotic demonstration. 

No. 29 — Notice of Organization of a Non-War Construction Bureau — And 
request for the nomination of three men in each county to serve in the 
committee. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 87 

No. 30 — Highways Transport Committee — Notice of the creation of this 
committee and request for recommendations for district, division, and county 
chairmen. 

No. 31 — The Development of Neighborhood Auxiliaries — Requesting the 
enlarging of the Neighborhood Committees into Neighborhood Auxiliaries, in 
order to co-ordinate the war work in the community on the same plan as the 
Executive Committees in the county, and in order to bring every man, woman 
and child to take an active part in war work. 

No. 32 — United War Work Campaign — November 11 to iS, 1918 — Urging the 
co-operation of county committees in making this campaign a success. 

No. 33 — "Stay on the Job" — Urging County Committees to maintain their 
organization regardless of the signing of the armistice, and to be prepared for 
any tasks which may be assigned to them. 

No. 34 — War History Committee — Requesting recommendations for mem- 
bership in the War History Committee, and outlining the procedure for the 
collection and preservation of the materials of war history. 

No. 35 — Apprehension of Deserters — Asking assistance for the War De- 
partment in the apprehension of deserters. 

No. 36 — Honorable Discharge to County Committees — Disbanding the 
County Executive, Auxiliary, Finance and Neighborhood Committees, the Non- 
War Construction Bureau, and Commercial Economy Administration. 

Questionnaire — Sent to the Chairman of the Executive and Finance Com- 
mittees requesting information regarding the organization, personnel and ef- 
ficiency of the Finance Committees, as the United War Work Campaign Com- 
mittee wished to use these committees in making their drive, wherever they 
were equipped to do so. 

In addition to the Bulletins, circular letters were sent out from time to time, 
among which were the following : 

Liberty Chorus and Community Singing — On August 8th we sent out cir- 
cular letters to our neighborhood chairmen requesting their co-operation with 
the County Chairmen of the Women's Committee in organizing Liberty Choruses 
and promoting Community Singing. 

Grozv More Wheat — On August 16th we sent out circular letters enclosing 
pamphlets of the Food Production and Conservation Committee on_ "Grow 
More Wheat" and requesting the co-operation of the Executive Committees in 
promoting this propaganda. 

United War Work Campaign — On September 18th we sent out a letter to 
the Executive Committee Chairman in each county inviting him to attend a 
conference in Chicago on September 24th and 25th to represent War Camp 
Community Service in making plans for the United War Work Campaign. 

Feed Your Garden Now — On October 6th, 1918, we sent a circular letter_ to 
our Neighborhood Committee Chairmen with instructions to use his organization 
in distributing "Feed Your Garden Now" circulars for the Food Production 
and Conservation Committee. 

Workers for Munition Plants— On October 6th, 1918, we sent out to E.xecu- 
tive Committees circular letter containing copy of telegram from Chairman of 
Field Division of the Council of National Defense asking for assistance in 
recruiting workers for munition plants. 

War Risk Insurance Frauds — On October 10th, 1918, we sent out circular 
letters enclosing bulletin from the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, to the Execu- 
tive Committee Chairmen, asking for assistance in stamping out frauds in con- 
nection with claims for allotments and allowances. 

CO-ORDINATION OF WaR WoRK BY CoUNTIES AUXILIARY 

From the above list of subjects dealt with by this department, it will be 
seen that the State Council of Defense delegated to the Counties Auxil- 
iary the duty of co-ordinating the work of all of its various departments 
and bringing about harmonious co-operation with all of the various War 



<55 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Activities, whether under State or Federal auspices. The most effective means 
employed in such co-ordination has been the formation of the County Executive 
Committees and County Finance Committees. 

Personnel of the County Executive Committees 

The County Executive Committee in each county consisted of the chair- 
men of the several committees of the State Council of Defense and of the 
Federal activities; in some counties there were also included the chairmen of 
local voluntary organizations which were efficiently carrying on some branch 
of war work. A typical committee consisted of the following : 

Chairman of County Auxiliary Committee (State Council). 

Labor Representative of County Auxiliary Committee (State Council) 

Chairman, Woman's Committee (State Council). 

Chairman, Neighborhood Committee (State Council). 

(NOTE — In a number of counties the County Auxiliary and Neigh- 
borhood Committee had been consolidated under one chairman.) 

Chairman, Finance Committee (State Council). 

Chairman, Food Production and Conservation Committee (State 
Council). 

Chairman, Publicity Committee (State Council). 

Chairman, Legal Advisory Board (State Council). 

Director, U. S. Boys' Working Reserve (Federal). 

Chairman, Liberty Loan Organization (Federal) 

Chairman, War Savings Committee (Federal). 

Administrator, Federal Food Administration (Federal). 

Chairman, Red Cross (Federal). 

Administrator, U. S. Fuel Administration (Federal). 

Chairman, Y. M. C. A. 

Chairman, Knights of Columbus. 

Relation of County Auxiliary Commitee to Executive Committee 

It will be noted from the above list that the chairman of the County 
Auxiliary Committee, the labor representative and the chairman of the Woman's 
Committee all became members of the County Executive Committee when it 
was organized, and therefore the work which had heretofore been done by the 
County Auxiliary Committee was in most instances taken over by the County 
Executive Committee. 

Functions of Executive Committee 

While the functions of the County Executive Committee were purely ad- 
visory and consultive, it has acted as a clearing house for all of the various 
war activities in the county, has minimized duplication of effort and expense, 
has prevented conflict of authority between committees, and has brought about 
a high standard of co-operation between the State Council of Defense and 
the various federal activities. From the very nature of things it has enjoyed 
great prestige and its authority has been recognized by the public. While 
co-ordinating the work of all the various committees, the Executive Commit- 
tee has not assumed executive jurisdiction over its constituent committees 
which have continued to receive their orders from and report to their state 
executive officers. The County Executive Committee, as such, was instructed 
to report direct to the Chairman of the State Council of Defense. The duties 
of organization and routine of management and correspondence were delegated 
by the Chairman of the State Council to the Counties Auxiliary and Neigh- 
borhood Committee department, and those matters are therefore included in 
this report. 

Classification of County Executive Committees 

According to our records the County Executive Committee has been organ- 
ized and the chairman and secretary selected, in seventy-eight (78) counties; 
of these twenty (20) may be classified as Tiaving carried on their work with a 
particularly high standard of efficiency; in thirty-eight (38) counties the work 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 89 

has been carried on well, but with a looser organization and a lower standard 
of co-operation ; the remaining twenty (20) counties have not been so well 
organized, and while specific tasks have been well performed, reports to this 
office do not indicate a very high standard of efficiency. 

Functions of County Finance Committees 

The County Finance Committees were designed to co-ordinate the money 
raising campaigns for all of the Major War Activities, and as a permanent 
organization their records of contributions to the various funds were available 
for each successive campaign, wherever they functioned properly. It was not 
the intention to interfere with the work of any of the accredited organizations, 
but ratlier to be of the utmost possible assistance to all of them, for it seemed 
evident that by merging the interests of all and placing at their disposal one 
efficient organization, larger amounts of money could be raised with very much 
less effort and expense and with less confusion and annoyance to the public. 

Classification of County Finance Committees 

Our County Finance Committees completed their organization, more or less 
raising campaigns for all of the major war activities, and as a permanent 
efficiently, in seventy-seven {IT) counties and these counties have taken an active 
part in tlie various financial campaigns for Liberty Loans, Red Cross, Salva- 
tion Army, War Camp Commamity Service, United War Work Fund, etc., and 
have done excellent service. Letters have been received from the Seventh 
Federal Reserve Director of Sales of the Liberty Loan Organization, the State 
Directors of the Red Cross, Salvation Army, War Camp Community Service 
and the United War Work Campaigns, expressing their appreciation of the 
assistance given in these campaigns by our Finance Committees. 

Treatment of Delinquents by Finance Committees 

Various methods of organization were adopted in the several counties and 
the policies pursued in following up those who failed to subscribe or who made 
inadequate subscriptions varied considerably. Some of the most interesting 
methods have been — - 

(a) "Flying Squadrons" which went about the county and inter- 
viewed the delinquents. 

(b) "Boards of Review" which called before them the individual and 
discussed with him the failure to subscribe the amount at wliich he had been 
rated. 

(c) The policy of accepting from the subscriber his "assessed quota" 
in full or not at all. 

(d) Publishing in the local press the full list of subscribers, thus show- 
ing up the slackers by a process of elimination. 

(e) One county during the Liberty Loan Campaign summoned to a 
large mass meeting all delinquents and also invited to that meeting a con- 
siderable number of patriotic citizens who had made adequate subscriptions. 
Patriotic and educational speeches were delivered by high grade speakers 
and those in attendance at the meeting were urged to place their ^subscrip- 
tions. This meeting resulted in a very considerable subscription by those 
who had not previously subscribed. 

(f) Two counties erected "Slacker Boards" on which were to be 
posted publicly the names of delinquents. We are advised that a very 
small number of names were ever posted, but the effect on public opinion 
in the counties was far from good. 

(g) Local committees in a number of counties have reported to this 
office the names of alleged slackers and we have written letters to these 
individuals calling to their attention their duties and responsibilities as 
patriotic citizens, reminding them that their refusal to contribute had 
created an antagonistic sentiment in the community against them and urg- 
ing them to clear their record by an adequate subscription. 



5 



V 



90 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

This office whenever consulted has discouraged policies of compulsion and 
has urged that educational methods be used. For the most part our County 
Finance Committees have operated very successfully and have been wisely and 
efficiently administered. There have been a few instances of the assumption of 
undue authority and the use of too drastic methods. I am gratified to report 
that these instances have been few in number and have not had a serious effect. 

The War Chest Plan for Money Raising 

In spite of the disapproving attitude of the State Council of Defense 
toward the War Chest idea, seven counties in the state adopted the War Chest 
plan throughout the county, and local War Chests were established in a consider- 
able number of cities and townships in other counties. The administration of the 
War Chests has m the main been fairly satisfactory, but I am more than ever 
convinced that the early ending of the war saved many of them from difiticulties 
which might have proved insurmountable. Injustices have undoubtedly been 
done to many of the Allied Relief organizations and the smaller war charities 
which did not operate under Federal auspices. So far as I am informed the 
War Chests have all fulfilled their obligations to the various national war activi- 
ties, such as Red Cross, United War Work Fund, etc. 

In connection with the work of the County Finance Committees in the 
earlier months of our organization there was considerable dissatisfaction with 
the methods of assignment of county quotas for the various financial cam- 
paigns, and no uniform method of assignment had been adopted. Through the 
summer, therefore, the Chairman of your committee devoted a considerable 
amount of time to working out a basis for the assignment of quotas which 
should be just and equitable to all counties. Mr. Jonathan B. Cook, a Certified 
Public Accountant of Chicago, volunteered his services in this connection and 
as a result of his efforts a plan was worked out which has proven eminently 
satisfactory. This plan was adopted by the United War Work Executive Com- 
mittee and as a result I have heard not a single complaint as to the quota 
assigned to any county in the state. 

Organization of Legal Advisory Boards 

Instructions from the Council of National Defense, in the form of Bulle- 
tin No. 84, dated February 4th, 1918, were received requesting that a local Legal 
Advisory Board be formed in connection with each county organization sub- 
ordinate to the Illinois State Council of Defense for the purpose in general of 
giving free legal advice to the drafted men and in particular to advise them as 
to their rights and duties under the Selective Service Law ; to explain to them 
the benefits of the war risk insurance ; the allotment of soldiers' and sailors' 
pay; to explain the Soldiers' and Sailors' Relief Act, and to give such other 
legal advice as might be required. 

Pursuant to such instructions a comprehensive legal booklet was prepared 
and sent in large numbers to the county organizations together with the State 
Council's Bulletin No. 10, instructing them as to the formation of their Legal 
Advisory Boards, setting forth thefr duties and advising them that it was 
of primary importance that each drafted man be notified that he might receive 
free legal advice touching his rights and duties as a soldier or sailor. 

Legal Advisory Boards Organized in 90 Counties 

The State Council's instructions to its county organizations received 
hearty and speedy co-operation with the result that out of one hundred and one 
(101) counties, exclusive of Cook County, ninety (90) counties formed such 
Boards, reporting the same to the State Council of Defense at Chicago, giving 
the name of their Chairman. These Legal Advisory Boards have ably performed 
such duties as they were requested to. 

Consolidation of Neighborhood Committee and Counties Auxiliary 

The Neighborhood Committee was fully organized about the middle of 
September, 1917, with Mr. Harold L. Ickes as Chairman; Mr. George W. Per- 
kins, Vice-Chairman, and Mr. L. E. Myers, Secretary. During the latter part 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 91 

of April, 1918, Mr. Harold L. Ickes, resigned as Chairman of the Neighbor- 
hood Committee to accept an important position with the Y. M. C. A. work in 
England and France. About this time Mr. F. W. Butterworth, Chairman of 
the Counties Auxiliary also resigned to devote all his time to Government work 
in his own business organization. The resignation of these two gentlemen who 
had so ably conducted the work of their respective departments from their 
inception seemed to the State Council of Defense to be an opportune 
time to consolidate the executive offices of the two committees. Mr. Walter S. 
Brewster, formerly Secretary of the Counties Auxiliary, was, therefore, ap- 
pointed as Chairman of the Counties Auxiliary and of the Neighborhood Com- 
mittee; Mr. Emerson B. Tuttle being appointed Secretary of the Counties 
Auxiliary, and Mr. Secor Cunningham, Secretary of the Neighborhood 
Committee. 

At about this same time the plan of organization for Cook County was 
perfected, and Mr. L. E. Myers, formerly Secretary of the Neighborhood Com- 
mittee, was appointed Executive Secretary of the Cook County Organization, 
the Chairman of the State Council of Defense being the Chairman of the 
Cook County Committee. 

Purpose of Neighborhood Committee Organization 

The Neighborhood Committee was organized for the purpose of stimulating 
patriotic sentiment in the state by encouraging the holding of small Neighbor- 
hood meetings at which the people themselves might meet and discuss the issues 
involved in the war, and be brought to an understanding of their duties and 
responsibilities as citizens. Larger patriotic mass meetings have been organized 
for which the Committee has supplied speakers through our Speakers' Bureau. 
The patriotic message was carried to the farmers through the co-operation of 
Farmers' Institutes. 

The holding of patriotic exercises in public schools was encouraged. 

Much intensive work was done among the citizens of the state, of German 
birth and descent, and the Committee encouraged the organization of groups of 
citizens of foreign origin in order to give them an opportunity for patriotic 
self expression. 

Speakers were supplied to churches, clubs, etc., and the Committee has 
encouraged the organization of local speakers bureaus in the various counties. 

Plan of Organization of Neighborhood Committee 

The plan of organization adopted was to form a general county committee 
with a Chairman, Secretary, etc., and then proceed to organize local committees 
in various centers in the county. These centers were chosen with reference to 
convenience of the people of the county rather than by any arbitrary geographi- 
cal distribution. In the fully organized counties there were from fifteen (15) 
to thirty (30) centers established. In some counties, township lines were fol- 
lowed, in others, school districts, but the organization was not uniform. A 
typical committee in a center consisted of five men and five women, but thi» 
was not strictly followed and there was considerable variation. 

1,079 Local Committees; 8,000 Members 

According to our records, these local committees were established in one 
thousand seventy-nine (1,079) centers throughout the state with a membership 
of approximately eight thousand (8,000) individuals. 

Classification of Neighborhood Committees 

The work of organization of the Neighborhood Committee was actively 
carried on by correspondence, personal interviews, and by the visits to the 
various counties by the Chairman and our State Organizer, Mrs. Josephine 
Clement. The Organizer has visited during the past year sixty counties and 
complete or partial organization was accomplished in all but ten counties of the 
state. Eight (8) of these ninety-one counties had excellent organizations com- 
plete in all respects ; forty-two (42) had excellent organizations but had not 
included women members; forty-one (41) had an inactive or incomplete organ- 
ization. 



92 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Organization of Neighborhood Auxiliaries 

About a month before the armistice was signed, we sent out Bulletin No. 
31, "The Development of Neighborhood Auxiliaries," recommending the exten- 
sion of County Organization by the creation of Neighborhood Auxiliaries, in 
accordance with the request and sviggestions of the President and the Council 
of National Defense. This bulletin described in detail the organization of 
these Neighborliood Auxiliaries, or Cominunity Executive Committees as they 
might be called, for they were modeled on the same lines as the County 
Executive Committees. The signing of the armistice on November 11th 
halted this work of broadening the scope of usefulness of the Neighborhood 
Committees, but a good deal of progress had been made in some counties. 

General Accomplishments of the Neighborhood Committees 

The work of the Neighborhood Committees was most varied, but as it was 
of rather an intangible nature, it is difficult to report actual accomplishment. 
A very large number of local meetings were held but there is no way to estimate 
the number thereof. The work of the Committee, however, had a large in- 
fluence in stimulating the patriotic sentiment of the state, and bringing our 
citizens into closer harmony with the policy of the Government in prosecuting 
the war. The energies and patriotic enthusiasm of a large number of citizens 
were enlisted for the various war activities and directed into proper channels. 

Mass Meeting in Chicago, October 21, 1917 

After May 1st, 1918, the Cook County Organization was treated as a 
separate department, but before that time the Neighborhood Committee organ- 
ized and conducted a number of large mass meetings and patriotic demonstra- 
tions in the city of Chicago, notable among which was the meeting on Sunday 
afternoon, October 21st, 1917, which was addressed by Governor Frank O. 
Lowden, Hon. Henry T. Rainey, and Mr. Clarence S. Darrow. Tiie meeting 
was held in the Auditorium Theatre, with an overflow demonstration on the 
Lake Front. It is estimated that not less than two hundred and fifty thousand 
(250,000) people were brought together on this occasion. 

Mass Meeting in Chicago, February 17, 1918 

On February 17th, 1918, the Committee organized a meeting in honor of 
Dr. C. Angelescu, the Roumanian Minister, and members of the legation who 
were visiting in Chicago at that time. This meeting was one of the most 
successful and largely attended demonstrations of patriotism on the part of 
foreign born citizens that has been seen in Chicago. 

Distribution of War Literature by Neighborhood Committees 

The propaganda and patriotic education work of the Neighborhood Com- 
mittee was carried on by the distribution through the county and community 
centers of approximately two hundred twenty-two thousand (222,000) pam- 
phlets and posters. These pamphlets, most of which were provided by the Com- 
mittee on Public Information at Washington, supplemented by the pul)lications 
of the University of Chicago press and the Propaganda Bureaus of the Allied 
nations, were published in English, German, Polish, Italian and other languages. 

Loyalty Pledge Cards; Circulated by the Neighborhood Committees 

The circulation for general signature in the counties of Loyalty Pledge 
Cards, that is, a declaration of loyalty on the part of the individuals, was success- 
fully carried on in forty counties, and proved to be a very effective means of 
crystallizing public sentiment and furnished a foundation for the further activi- 
ties of the County Neighborhood Committees. 

Liberty Choruses 

Liberty Choruses were established in a considerable number of communities 
under the joint auspices of the Woman's Committee and the Neighborhood 
Committee, and much was done in the way of encouraging community singing. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 93 

Organization of Speakers' Bureau 
The Speakers' Bureau was organized under the auspices of the Neighbor- 
hood Committee in the fall of 1917 by Mr. Henry F. Dickinson, a Chicago 
lawyer, who volunteered his services, and was conducted by him for several 
months, when he was succeeded by Mr. David Jamieson of Chicago, who had 
volunteered his services to assist Mr. Dickinson. Mr. Jamieson continued as 
Manager of the Bureau until it was incorporated into the Council's Unified 
Bureau of Public Speakers. 

500 Different Speakers; 6,690 Meetings 

So far as possible the work of the Bureau was carried on by volunteer 
speakers, but there were times when it was necessary to employ^ a few paid 
speakers to do special work. From tlie time of organization until November 
1st. 1918, the Speakers' Bureau assigned approximately five hundred (500) 
speakers to about six thousand, six hundred and ninety (6.690) meetings 
throughout the state, among them being many distinguished public officials, 
both from our own country and our Allies. 

Returned Soldiers as Speakers 

We had from time to time the services of British, Canadian, French and 
American returned soldiers who did most effective work in bringing before the 
people the meaning of the war. 

Co-operation of Speakers' Bureau With Other War Activities 

The Speakers' Bureau co-operated with many other organizations engaged 
in war service, including American Red Cross, Liberty Loan, War Savings, 
Security League, Union League Club. Churches, etc. Several loyal and patriotic 
citizens of German birth or descent were of the greatest possible service in 
speaking in those communities where we had a large German population, and 
they did splendid work along the lines of patriotic education. 

On November 1st, 1918, the Unified Bureau of Public Speakers was organ- 
ized and took over the administration of the Speakers' Bureau. 

Organization of Hungarian Patriotic Association 
Under the direction of the Neighborhood Committee, the Hungarian Patri- 
otic Association was formed in April, 1918, its object being to spread America's 
propaganda and to educate and endeavor to make good citizens of this foreign 
born race. Many successful meetings were held and thousands of loyalty cards 
were signed, and the present officers and directors intend to continue their 
organization on an active basis. 

In addition to the subjects treated of in the bulletins enumerated in the 
first part of this report we have dealt with a number of problems, among which 
the following may be especially noted. 

The Use of the German Language 
The use of the German language, particularly in churches, schools, Sunday 
schools, etc., has been a constant source of agitation, notably in those counties 
of the state which have a considerable population of German origin. In dealing 
with this question we recognized that little had been done prior to the war in 
the way of discouraging the use of foreign languages and that as a result 
many of our citizens of (jerman birth had very slight knowledge of English and 
depended on German for their religious, political and social knowledge and 
intercourse. We, therefore, urged that the use of the German language in 
primary schools, parochial schools, Sunday schools, and wherever young chil- 
dren were concerned, should be given up as a voluntary patriotic act and as a 
concession to public opinion. We did not request churches to give up preach- 
ing in German, nor did we request the discontinuance of the publication and 
distribution of German language newspapers and periodicals. We urged, how- 
ever, that the German language in churches, newspapers, etc., should be used 
as an instrument for patriotic education and for the stimulating of a higher 
standard of American citizenship. As a result of this policy a number of 
churches voluntarily gave up the use of the German language in all their 
church exercises, and others discontinued its use in their parochial and Sunday 
schools. 



94 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

The interpretation of this policy in the various localities by the County 
Committees and local Neighborhood Committees for the most part had excel- 
lent results. There were a few instances where the local people clashed with the 
German element and there were a few sporadic outbreaks of mob violence. On 
the whole, however, the matter was well handled. Local problems arising from 
this question were dealt with in large numbers in this office by correspondence 
and personal interviews. 

State Fair Exhibit 
Upon the suggestion of the Council of National Defense, and with only 
about a week of preparation, an exhibit of the work and outline of methods of 
the State Council of Defense, including all committees, was presented at the 
Centennial Fair, Springfield, Illinois, beginning August 9th, 1918, and continuing 
for two weeks. Not only was the work of the Committees directly under the 
jurisdiction of the State Council of Defense included in this exhibit, but 
that of co-operating Federal Activities as well. 

The exhibit received most favorable comment in the press, and was a 
center of interest, reaching many thousands of people daily. Literature from 
the Department of Public Information, the University of Chicago, State Council 
Organization Charts, and the State Council News were distributed daily in 
large quantities during the entire session. 

The following committees were represented : 
Executive Committee. 
Neighborhood Auxiliaries. 
Food Production and Conservation. 
U. S. Boys' Working Reserve. 
U. S. Food Administration. 
U. S. Fuel Administration. 
Young Men's Christian Association. 
Young Women's Christian Association. 
Salvation Army. 
Liberty Loan Committee. 
Allied Relief. 

Woman's Committee, including following departments : 
Social Service. 
Hygiene. 

Food Conservation. 
Child Welfare. 

Women and Children in Industry. 
Distinctive features were presented by each committee and special mention 
should be made of the Food Conservation Bureau, the Allied Relief and the 
Child Welfare. Attendants in these and all departments were provided by 
individual committees. The Chairman of the Counties Auxiliary and Neigh- 
borhood Committee, and of the Food Production and Conservation Committee 
were present for several days, and the co-operation of the Sangamon County 
Executive Committee also contributed much to the success. General supervision 
of the Exhibit was in charge of the State Organizer. 

It is difficult to estimate the value of such an undertaking, but without 
doubt many people learned of the existence, aims, and obligations of the 
State Council who had never heard of the organization and could not have 
been reached otherwise. 

U. S. Government War Exposition 

During the period of September 2nd to 15th, 1918, the Chairman of the 
Counties Auxiliary and Neighborhood Committee took part in the activities 
of the United States Government War Exposition which was held on the 
Lake Front in Chicago. 

Applications for Ovt:rseas Service with American Red Cross 

Early in July the American Red Cross asked our assistance in securing 
information with reference to applicants for overseas service. Reference re- 
ports were sent to our County Committees in one hundred ninety-four (194) 
instances, one hundred eighty-two (182) of which were investigated and re- 
turned to the American Red Cross, and we were advised by the officials of the 
Red Cross that this service was of great valu?, 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 95 

Army Deserters 

During the last two months of our existence the military authorities reported 
to us something over fifty (50) cases of desertions from the army by men 
living in the State of Illinois, outside of Cook County. These cases were 
reported in every instance to our County Committees with a request that if the 
deserter returned to his home he should be apprehended. Our County Com- 
mittees were instrumental in returning to military service several of these 
deserters. 

Headquarters Established 

We strongly recommended to all of our county organizations the establish- 
ment of headquarters or offices conveniently located, in which should center the 
work of all the war activities, both those of the State Council of 
Defense and of co-operating federal agencies. Such headquarters were 
established in twenty-three (23) counties and in a number of instances similar 
local headquarters were established in several communities in the same county. 

The Boards of County Supervisors in eighteen (18) counties made appro- 
priations to defray in part at least the expenses of such offices and the conduct 
of the State Council of Defense work. 

The county organizations have co-operated with practically all of the war 
activities, both state and federal, and have been largely instrumental in co- 
ordinating the war work of the state. 

We were called upon for recommendations for the personnel of the county 
organizations of many of the War Activities and assisted in all of the financial 
campaigns for Liberty Loans, War Savings Stamps, Red Cross, United War 
Work Campaign, etc., not only through the work of our Finance Committees, 
but by publicity and propaganda. Special reports and surveys were obtained on 
a variety of subjects which assisted in the work of the other departments of the 
State Council and of the Federal Agencies. 

In those counties where organization was more or less complete, the Chair- 
man and members of the various committees performed their tasks with a 
remarkable devotion to duty and patriotism, and while efficiency varied, their 
services were of the utmost value. Requests or suggestions from this office 
were accepted as orders and were carried out with cheerfulness and promptness, 
even in those cases where there might have been a difference of opinion as to 
the necessity or wisdom of the order. It has been the greatest plasure to me to 
know and work with so many patriotic citizens representing such a variety of 
interests throughout the state, who have been willing to sacrifice their own 
personal convenience to the call of duty. I have appreciated more than I can 
express the cordial personal relations and loyal and faithful co-operation of this 
large number of individuals. 

In closing this my final report I desire to express my admiration and 
respect for the Chairman, Officers and Members of the State Council of De- 
fense under whom it has been my privilege to serve for fifteen months. 

I also desire to record my appreciation of the loyal and faithful service of 
Mr. Emerson B. Tuttle and Mr. Secor Cunningham, secretaries, respectively, 
of the Counties Auxiliary and Neighborhood Committees, whose assistance in 
my work has been invaluable. 

I also desire to express my gratitude and appreciation to Mr. David Jamie- 
son. Manager of the Speakers' Bureau, and to all of the members of our office 
staff who have labored cheerfully, efficiently and faithfully in this patriotic 
work which we have been carrying on. 

To the heads of all of the other Departments of the State Council of 
Defense I desire to express my appreciation of their invariable courtesy and 
co-operation in all of our relations. 

It is with a feeling of real regret that I terminate this period of service 
which has been filled with so many pleasant associations which will leave a 
lasting memory. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Walter S. Brewster, Chairman. 



APPENDIX V. 

FINAL REPORT OF THE COOK COUNTY AUXILIARY 
STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

January 20th, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

Complying with your request for a report covering the organization and 
activities of the Cook County Auxiliary of the State Council of Defense, I am 
pleased to advise that this organization as now constituted was definitely organ- 
ized on February 4th, 1918. Prior to that time centralization of the State Council's 
activities in Cook County were delayed for a number of reasons, particularly the 
following : 

1. Chicago being the center of all State Council activities, as well as of 
all federal war activities in Illinois, there was not the same need here, as in 
down state counties, for a central body to stimulate and systematize volunteer 
war work. 

2. Many local and community branches of the Neighborhood Committee 
had been created here, as well as a variety of bodies organized in wards and 
lesser territorial units, all of which contributed to stirring up the public and 
advancing war undertakings. 

3. Particular groups of citizens — physicians, ministers, school teachers, 
fraternal organizations, etc.^ — had been organized for war work and were regu- 
larly and effectively functioning. 

Eventually, conditions which had apparently lessened the need of a central 
organization in Cook County (particularly those suggested in Paragraph No. 2 
above) developed a situation which made the formation of a central Body an 
imperative necessity. A multitude of war work and patriotic organizations 
grew up, many of which overlapped both in purpose and in territory covered. 
To save time, energy and money, it became obviously necessary to co-ordinate 
and systematize the work of these organizations and eliminate duplication and 
consequent waste of money and human energy. 

By this time it had become evident that the method of co-ordinating all 
war activities of a given county into a County Executive Committee, which the 
State Council had developed elsewhere throughout the State, was the proper 
method of procedure in Cook County — adapted, of course, to fit the larger and 
denser population of Chicago and the conditions due to multiplicity of nationali- 
ties. Mr. Lewis E. Myers, first as secretary and afterward as chairman of 
the general Neighborhood Committee, having intimate acquaintance with the 
needs of the situation, worked out the necessary adaptation based on exemp- 
tion districts and it was put into effect on the date stated. All Cook County 
Neighborhood committees and other bodies subordinate to or affiliated with the 
State Council, directly or indirectly, were automatically absorbed into the Cook 
County Auxiliary. Officers of the Auxiliary and officers of the constituent 
bodies were appointed as follows : 

Lewis E. Myers, Chairman; Walter H. Wilson, Vice-Chairman ; Thomas H. 
Knight, Secretary. 

Executive Committee 

Lewis E. Myers, Chairman 

Walter H. Wilson, Vice-Chairman 
Burridge D. Butler Robert M. Sweitzer 

Robert E. Durham E. J. E. Ward 

Mrs. Wm. S. Heflferan Walter H. Wilson 

B. J. Mullaney T. J. Webb 

96 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 97 

Co-ordination Committee 

Robt. M. Sweitzer, Chairman Lewis E. Myers, Vice-ChairmaH 

L. A. Calvin, Secretary 

Fuel Committee 
Robt. E. Durham, Chairman J. W. O'Leary, Vice-ChairmaH 

E. W. Lloyd, Secretary 

Neighborhood Committee 

Lewis E. Myers, Chairman Geo. W. Perkins, Vice-Chairman 

L. A. Calvin, Secretary 

License Committee 

E. J. E. Ward, Chairman Wm. A. Fox, Vice-ChairmaH 

J. H. Gulick, Secretary 

Finance Committee 

Walter H. Wilson, Chairman Herman Waldeck, Vice-ChairmaH 

Lewis E. Myers, Secretary 

Woman's Committee 

Mrs. Wm. S. Hefferan, Chairman Mrs. Grace Trout, Vice-Chairman 

Miss Emily Napieralski, Secretary 

Publicity Committee 
B. J. Mullaney, Chairtuan W. H. Culver, Secretary 

U. S. Boys' Working Reserve 
Burridge D. Butler, Chairman Peter Fleming, Secretary 

Food Production and Conservation Committee 

T. J. Webb, Chairman John R. Thompson, Vice-Chairman 

Peter Fleming, Secretary 

At the first meeting of the Cook County Auxiliary the purpose of the 
organization, its functions and opportunities, with emphasis on the need of 
co-ordinated effort to eliminate duplication and effect proper team work, were 
all fully explained by Mr. Myers, who also explained the plan of organization. 
Since that date, the Cook County Auxiliary has been the agent of the State 
Council of Defense in all forms of war activity within the territorial limits 
of the county. 

The first and most important, as well as the largest piece of work under- 
taken by the committee, was the co-ordination of war activities in Cook County. 
The difficulties of this were enormous. Almost every locality had at least some 
kind of war relief organization; many also had Neighborhood Committees or 
other patriotic bodies. They were organized by wards, towns or villages; 
some by selective draft board districts and some by local communities or 
neighborhoods. They had a great variety of names and in many cases, elastic 
purposes, so that two or more organizations were frequently doing similar, if 
not identical, classes of work. Confusion, misdirected and dissipated energy 
and considerable working at cross purposes were among the consequences. 
Practically all of these organizations were jealous of their separate identities; 
many of them were proud, and justly so, of the work they had done; some 
had considerable funds in hand or income provided for; others had originated 
as local organizations of relatives and neighbors formed to furnish creature 
comforts to the men who had gone into the army and navy, and here senti- 
mental considerations were strong. Hence the difficulty — at times it seemed an 
impossibility — of welding these bodies into one well-co-ordinated organization 
covering the entire county, without destroying the spirit and enthusiasm of the 
original units. 

Chairman Myers finally worked out a plan predicated upon making the 
selective draft law exemption district the basic unit of the county organization. 
Starting from this point, all war activities in each of the 95 exemption districts 



98 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

of Cook County were consolidated into one district organization. These dis- 
trict bodies were then federated as the Cook County Auxiliary of the State 
Council of Defense. 

This plan carefully charted, was thoroughly considered by the Co-ordina- 
tion Committee and was approved. On May 20th, 1918, a general meeting of 
all organizations in the county was called by the Co-ordination Committee, the 
plan presented and adopted and immediately put into effect. Some friction was 
encountered, of course, in applying the plan, but not to any disturbing or ham- 
pering degree. Representatives of practically all organizations readily came 
to see, with the increasing pressure of war problems, that close organization 
and team work were essential to the proper execution of the tasks imposed 
upon all citizens by the war. 

The plan worked better week by week. It eliminated duplication ; it c©n- 
centrated and systematized war work of every kind, from gathering war relief 
funds to promoting patriotic thought and action by means of public meetings 
and otherwise; still more important, perhaps, it brought every community in 
the county into active participation in the responsibilities and activities of war 
time. When the county was platted into exemption districts, it was discovered 
that some districts had practically no war activities. These had to be stim- 
ulated and organized so that finally there was a tangible, active unit of the 
Cook County Auxiliary in each one of the 95 exemption districts. These con- 
stituted an army of at least 35,000 men and women enrolled for patriotic service, 
whatever that service might be. 

As it settled down to earnest, systematic attention to the problems of war 
time, the value of this organization was fully demonstrated. Its expenses, besides 
those borne by the State Council of Defense, were defraj-ed by the personal 
contributions of some 45 public spirited citizens. 

Obviously the greater part of the Cook County Auxiliary's work was 
the guiding of systematic, every-day routine incident to the multitude of con- 
stantly active war-time undertakings, either throughout the county or in local 
communities. An important item was the matter of licensing the solicitation 
of funds for war relief of various kinds. 

All applications for permission to solicit funds in Cook County for war 
aid and relief were passed upon by the Auxiliary's License Committee. Of 
the 349 applications considered, 289 were licensed and 61 were either rejected, 
wfthdrawn, tabled or co-ordinated. Several conspicuous enterprises which were 
masquerading as war relief, but which were more or less in the nature of 
money-getting enterprises for private benefit, were reorganized on a proper 
basis or put out of business. 

The total amount collected under the 289 licenses issued has not been 
definitely ascertained, the audit not being completed, but it was probably in 
excess of $5,000,000, and the cost of collecting and administering these funds 
was less than 10 per cent. In other words, 90 per cent of every dollar col- 
lected for war aid or war relief was devoted to that use. 

Among conspicuous events under the direction of the Cook County Auxil- 
iary, these may be mentioned : 

Belgian Corps d'Elite 

On May 25th, 1918, the Cook County Auxiliary received and entertained 
340 Belgians en route from the eastern to the western front. On their arrival 
here they paraded in the Loop and the chief of police estimated that more 
than 600,000 people gathered in the Loop to view these soldiers, the largest 
crowd that had ever been brought together in the Loop. These men were 
afterwards entertained by the Illinois Athletic Club, Union League and Uni- 
versity Clubs, and left Chicago that same evening. 

Alpine Chasseurs 

On May 29th, 1918, the Cook County Auxiliary received 160 Alpine Chas- 
seurs, members of the famous Blue Devil regiment of France, who were taken 
to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and entertained there until the 
morning of May 30th. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 99 

Their return to Chicago was followed by a parade in the Loop, a tour of 
the boulevards in automobiles and tea at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, followed 
by a dinner and reception at the Blackstone Hotel. 

On Thursday night, June 13th, a large meeting was held at the Illinois 
Theater in honor of Messrs. Justin Godart and Daniel Blumenthal, repre- 
sentatives of France and Alsace-Lorraine, respectively, which meeting was dis- 
tinctly in the interest of the Alsace-Lorrainers. 

Earl of Dunmore 

There was a large meeting held Sunday evening, June 23d, 1918, at the 
Municipal Pier, which was addressed by Colonel, The Earl of Dunmore, V. C, 
M. V. O., D. S. O., which was very successful. 

Mexican Editors 

Twenty Mexican editors visited Chicago during their tour of the United 
States and were entertained by the Cook County Auxiliary for three days, visit- 
ing Great Lakes Station, North Shore Country Club, the stockyards, and steel 
plant at Gary, Ind. 

Marine Recruiting 

A committee to stimulate marine recruiting was organized on June 13th. 
Five offices were opened in the Loop and 3,553 men were enlisted — some 400 
more than were enlisted througli all other agencies combined. 

Patriotic Meetings 

During July an arrangment was made with a number of socialists who 
were in sympathy with the war to hold patriotic street meetings, at which a 
great deal of patriotic literature was distributed. These meetings grew to be 
most active and important. 

Fourth of July Celebration 

With the co-operation of more than twenty clubs and societies, and of 
the county committees of the Democratic and Republican parties, the Auxiliary 
organized a city-wide observance of the Fourth of July on a high and educa- 
tionally patriotic plane. There were approximately 100 formal celebrations 
of the nation's birthday throughout Chicago, in which fully half a million 
persons participated, including sixty-three nationalities, representing practically 
all the foreign-born elements of the city's population. 

Salvation Army Drive 

At a meeting of the Cook County Auxiliarv, held on Monday, June 17th, 
1918, the matter of taking in hand a "drive" 'for $250,000 for the Salvation 
Army Overseas War Fund was undertaken. This drive lasted one week, be- 
ginning August 12th, and proved most successful — $483,000 being collected at 
a cost of about 3 per cent. 

Red Cross Investigations 

During July an arrangement was effected whereby applications to the Red 
Cross, Y. M. C. A. and other war agencies for personal service overseas were 
referred to the Cook County Auxiliary for investigation. From July to De- 
cember, 1918, 572 such applications were investigated and reported to the in- 
quiring agency. 

Illicit Solicitation and Sedition 

The Committee worked in close harmony with the American Protective 
League in uncovering and satisfactorily disposing of many cases of sedition as 
well as illicit solicitation and improper collections for war aid or war relief, 
which cases varied in character from selling service stamps for the benefit 
of the Red Cross to selling stock in an airship company on the pretext of 
patriotic service. 



100 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Representatives of the various Exemption District Committees were most 
helpful in reporting cases of illicit solicitation and sedition. 

One of the most effective pieces of work done by this Committee wai 
in connection with the holding of a proposed parade on Labor Day by the 
Dal-ma-ti-ska Sloga, an organization of Dalmatians and Croatians, all technically 
"alien enemies," located in South Chicago. 

Due solely to the efforts of this Committee the permit for a parade wai 
denied by the chief of police and the writ of mandamus, filed by the attorneys 
for the Dalmatian organizations, was defeated in the courts. 

United War Work Campaign 

The Cook County Auxiliary, through its Exemption District Committees, 
co-operated with the United War Work Campaign, which occurred in October, 
and the final report of the Executive Committee of that campaign gave the 
Cook County organization credit for having collected $810,908. 

War Savings Campaign 

An arrangement was also effected with the Exemption District organiza- 
tions outside of the city to co-operate with the War Savings Committee in its 
effort to sell the allotted quotas in these various districts. 

Non-War Construction 

On September 21st, at your direction. Chairman Myers appointed a Com- 
mittee on Non-War Construction for Cook County, the following gentlemen 
serving in that capacity: 

L. E. Myers, Chairman, Chicago. Frank L. Doherty, Chicago. 

Frank M. Carroll, Vice-Chairman, H. G. Hetzler, Chicago. 

Chicago. W. H. Donovan, Chicago Heights. 

J. C. Cannon, Chicago. Charles H. Patten, Palatine. 

This Committee was particularly fortunate in being able to get Mr. Frank 
M. Carroll, superintendent of construction for Holabird & Roche, to accept 
the vice-chairmanship of the Committee, which met daily, and which, to the 
date of its dissolution November 15th, passed on 336 applications for building 
permits. The total value of the permits passed upon by this Committee was 
$10,784,381. 

Service Flag Raisings 

During the summer months there was a falling off in the holding of 
patriotic meetings, but these meetings were succeeded by so-called "Flag Rais- 
ings," on which occasions flags with stars representing the men gone into 
service from a particular neighborhood, were appropriately dedicated by the fam- 
ilies and friends of these men, and these occasions were made the subject of 
patriotic demonstrations. 

The flag raisings continued through the summer and fall. The influenza 
epidemic which prevailed in October prevented these celebrations during that 
time and after the signing of the armistice, November 11th, there were only 
a few such Flag Raisings held. However, there were 126 applications for 
these celebrations approved during the months of July, August and September. 

Free Music 

Through the influence of the Cook County Auxiliary, the Musicians' Union 
was prevailed upon to furnish free music for all patriotic meetings, with the 
result that bands and orchestras were furnished in great numbers through the 
generous co-operation of Mr. Joseph Winkler, president of the Musicians' 
Union, and Mr. Edgar A. Benson. These musical organizations contributed 
their services without limit as to number and entirely without compensation. 

Military Funerals 

Many requests for proper escort for military funerals were received by 
the Cook County Auxiliary which arranged to take care of them, and waj 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 101 

able to respond immediately when called upon in this way until the influenza 
epidemic, when the Healtli Department issued an order forbidding the attend- 
ance of more than ten persons at any one funeral. 

School Halls 

During the winter of 1918 the School Board saw fit to charge from $7.00 
to $9.00 for the use of assembly halls in the public schools. We conferred 
with President Davis and some of the members of the School Board and 
succeeded in convincing them there should be no charge for this service, and 
worked out an arrangement with them by which the free use of school halls 
would be granted upon applications approved by us. This arrangement was 
made eflfective September 20th, and 47 permits were granted to lipld weekly, 
semi-weekly and single meetings in the various school halls from that date to 
the'latter part of November. 

Bishop of Arras 

A dinner in honor of the Bishop of Arras, heading the French Ecclesiastic 
Mission, was held November 11th at the Blackstone^ Hotel, with a meeting 
at Orchestra Hall following. The coincidence of thTs meeting occurring on 
the day peace was celebrated resulted in awaking an unusual interest. The din- 
ner was largely attended and the meeting at Orchestra Hall was limited only 
by the capacity of the building. 

Bishop of Northampton 

On November 19th the Right Reverend Keating, Bishop of Northampton, 
and the British ecclesiastics accompanying him, were entertained at dinner at 
the Blackstone Hotel. 

Victory Meetings 

On the evening of November 22d an "All-Chicago Victory Meeting" was 
held at the Coliseum, which was addressed by Governor Lowden and Honorable 
Clarence Darrow. This was a most successful meeting, being attended by 
12,000 persons, and a most unusual occurrence was the presence of the entire 
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which had never before appeared at a meeting 
of this kind, its services being contributed by the Chicago Civic Music Asso- 
ciation. 

Desertions 

During the latter part of the war the War Department established the 
practice of reporting desertions to State Councils of Defense and requested 
their co-operation in locating deserters. The Cook County Auxiliary, through 
its various committees, handled 666 such cases, actually finding and returning 
11 men to their respective camps. It also was able to report to the War 
Department the death of two men while absent on leave. 

Red Cross Christmas Roll Call 

In December, 1918, an arrangement was effected whereby the Cook County 
Exemption District Committees co-operated with the Chicago Chapter of the 
American Red Cross in handling its Christmas Roll Call Membership Campaign. 

Bulletins 

During its life, the Cook County Auxiliary Issued notices, instructions, etc., 
to each of its Exemption District and Neighborhood Committees in the form 
of bulletins. These bulletins numbered 34, and were on the following subjects : 

War Gardens. 

Coal Shortage. 

Burning and Storage of Indiana Coal. 

Four-Minute Men Talking in Moving Picture Theaters. 

Women's Organizations. 

Licenses. 

Marine Recruiting. 



102 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Legal Rules — For Guidance of Legal Advisory Boards and Soldieri 

and Sailors. 
Salvation Army Drive. 
Liberty Loan Campaign. 

Unauthorized Collections for War Aid and War Relief. 
War Exposition in Grant Park. 
Thrift and Economy. 
Liberty Loans. 

Use of Assembly Halls in School Buildings. 

Patriotic Emblems to Be Used on Windshields, Windows, etc. 
Materials for Gas Defense — Peach Stones, Nut Shells, etc. 
Employment in Munitions Plants. 
Infliuenza Epidemic — Discouraging Gathering of Crowds at Meeting!, 

etc. 
Further Development of Community Councils. 

Necessity of Continuing Work Even After Signing of Armistice. 
United War Work Campaign. 

Work of Reconstruction — Returning Soldiers and Sailors. 
Victory Meeting. 

Christmas Tree Festival and Animal Circus — Woman's Committee. 
Instructions for Dissolution of Cook County Organizations. 
Red Cross Christmas Roll Call. 
Termination of Affairs of Cook County Auxiliary. 

A great many calls were received from the Draft Boards for interpreter! 
and stenographers, and every such request was promptly met. 

The State Council of Defense decided to curtail its activities as rapidly 
as possible after the signing of the armistice and on December 3d Bulletin 
No. 31 was issued to all Cook County Exemption District and Neighborhood 
Committee chairmen, requesting the dissolution of their organizations not later 
than December 20th, 1918. 

The Cook County Auxiliary officially terminated its activities December 
31st, 1918, although the License Committee of the organization is still in force 
and will continue until peace is finally declared. 

This report would not be complete without grateful acknowledgment of 
the Committee's appreciation of the constant and loyal help given it by the 
officers and individual members of the various constituent organizations, with- 
out which the Committee's accomplishments would have fallen far short of 
what they were. 

Respectfully submitted, 

L. E. Myers, Cliairman. 



APPENDIX VI 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

July 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

I submit herewith financial statement of the State Council of Defense of 
Illinois as of June 30, 1919. 

This statement covers receipts from all sources and all expenditures by 
Council authority for the entire period from organization of the Council to 
June 30, 1919. 

In scanning the main items of expense, it will be understood, of course, 
that "clerical" includes the usual stenographic and other office assistance. This 
was the only kind of personal service at headquarters paid for by the Council, 
and the expense of it was segregated and charged to the various committees 
and departments which had the service; hence there is no salary account. 

The financial statements follows : 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT— JUNE 30, 1919. 

INCOME ACCOUNT: 

Cash received from State of Illinois (appropriation) $ 50,000.00 

Cash donations by private subscribers 100,300.00 

Building Space and Expense of Operating Same — (Light, Heat, 

Janitor, Elevator and Miscellaneous Service) contributed 86,090.40 

Miscellaneous Cash Receipts: 44,840.55 

Moving Pictures v-$ 3,189.94 

Patriotic Food Show 7,696.88 

P'ood Show Recipe Books 3,385.71 

Seed Corn Administration 22,059.92 

Sale of Furniture 8.508. 10 

$44,840.55 $281,230.95 
EXPENDITURES: 

Counties Auxiliary (Printing and Stationery, Postage and Cleri- 
cal Expense) $ 1,984.53 

Closed Expense of Committees 1,828.72 

(Clerical, Printing, Stationery, Postage, Tele- 
phone, Telegraph, etc., for the following 
specific purposes, which closed up as soon as 
work was done, or moved from bldg. : 
Investigation by Labor Committee of E. St. 

Louis Race Riots $ 659.95 

U. S. Government Free Naval School 68.43 

Inter-Allied Bureau 415.57 

Naval Reserve Force 61.85 

Printing Legal Rules and Suggestions to Soldiers 
and Sailors by Law and Legislation Commit- 
tee 113.97 

Farm Machinery Department 59.70 

Medical Officers Reserve 72.05 

Chicago Council of Social Agencies 280.00 

Exchange 5.50 

Military Entertainment Committee ("Smileage") 91.70 

$1,828.72 

Educational Committee 12.16 

Executive Expense, (Clerical, Printing and Stationery, Postage, 

Telephone, Telegraph, Furniture, Supplies, etc) 30.172.63 

103 



104 STATE COUNCIL OP DEFENSE 

Receipts Brought Forward 281,230.95 

EXPENDITURES— Continued : 

Neighborhood Committee, (Literature, Postage, Mass Meetings, 

Traveling Expenses of Speakers, etc.) 35,054.43 

Womans Committee (Printing, etc.) 19,095.40 

Publicity Department (Printing, Postage, Clerical, etc.) 23,125.59 

Military Affairs (Clerical, Printing, etc.) 7,374.08 

Fonr Minute Men 10,983,47 

Food Production and Conservation Committee 5,720.24 

U. S. Boys' Working Reserve (Printing, Clerical, Postage, etc.) 12,735.82 
Engineering and Inventions Committee (Affiliated with U. S. 

Naval Consulting Board — Clerical, Printing, Postage, etc.) 2,448.07 

License Committee (Clerical, Printing, Postage, etc.) 4,087.94 

War Recreation Board (Representing U. S. War Camp Com- 
munity Service — Clerical, Printing, Postage, etc.) 4,086.12 

U. S. Fuel Administration (Printing, Postage, Clerical, etc.).... 4,451.19 
Civilian Personnel Committee (Representing Civilian Personnel 

Section, Ordnance Dept., U. S. A.— Clerical, Printing, etc.) 1,847.74 

Spy Glass Committee (Clerical, Expressage, etc.) 869.44 

Farm Labor Bureau (Clerical, Traveling Expenses, etc.) 3,668.53 

Public Service Reserve (Co-operating with U. S. Employment 

Service) 218.35 

War Garden Bureau (Clerical, Printing, Stationery, Postage 

Etc.) 4,216.27 

Cook County Auxiliary (Clerical, Printing, Stationery, Postage, 

etc.) 1,634.35 

Commercial Economy Administration (Printing, Stationery, 

Postage, Clerical, etc.) 2,150.35 

Home Registration Service Committee 91.63 

U. S. Government War Exposition 17.84 

Highways Transport Committee (Clerical, etc.) 925.35 

State Fair (Exhibits, fraveling Expenses, Printing, etc.) 417.56 

Non-War Construction Bureau (Printing, Stationery, Postage, 

etc.) 2,222.44 

Illinois Centennial Committee 3.79 

Unified Bureau of Public Speakers (Printing, Stationery, Post- 
age, Traveling Expenses of Speakers, etc.) 2,292.34 

Community Singers and Liberty Chorus (Clerical, Printing, 

Organization Expense) 768.20 

U. S. School of Navigation 79.06 

Building Space and Expense of Operating Same 86,090.40 

Total Expenditures $270,674.03 

Balance 10.556.92 

The above balance is made up as follows : 

Cash on hand 66.31 

Cash in bank to the credit of J. Ogden Armour, Treasurer.. 10,308.61 

Accounts Receivable 182.00 10,556.92* 

*Of the above there is set aside $5,000.00 to cover unsettled 
accounts. 

Disposition of the unexpended balance is subject to the order of the 
Council. Respectfully submitted, 

J. H. GuLicK, Auditor. 



APPENDIX VII 

WOMAN'S COMMITTEE OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

May IS, 1919. 

To the State Council of Defense: 

Now that the war is over and the work of the women of Illinois during that 
period can be reviewed apart from the exciting, and often tense, moments of 
enactment, it spreads out in bold and glorious panorama as an achievement well 
worthy of being written into the annals of the State. Individually, the entire 
womanhood of the State responded with a solemn eagerness as if to a chal- 
lenge "to arms" and at every turn one heard the familiar refrain, "I want to 
help. Isn't there something I can do?" This humble and anxious willingness 
of every woman to do her part in helping win the war never wavered nor 
relaxed in the slightest until the war was won. 

The women soon regarded their work as the less^ spectacular but vitally 
necessary "home work," maintaining the "home lines" and community morale so 
that the all important and sensitive morale of the soldiers at the front, so 
dependent on the morale back home, might be maintained and strengthened. It 
concerned itself with the need of the hour — whatever that need was — the 
raising of money, selling Liberty Bonds, War Savings Stamps, assisting with 
the big "drives" of the government, the producing of food, the saving of food, 
fuel and clothing, the making of knitted garments, surgical dressings and refugee 
clothing. 

The Woman's Committee, State Council of Defense of Illinois, definitely 
registered women for war service, placed them in volunteer service and found 
paid positions for them ; it stimulated the support of social work throughout 
the State and organized, in connection with the Children's Year, a thorough 
campaign to save the lives of its children. 

The girls and young women were organized into patriotic service leagues 
with a view to furnishing them wholesome organized recreation and an oppor- 
tunity to render war service; a campaign showing the dangers of social diseases 
was carried on among young women in industrial plants, stores and offices. 

Classes were organized among non-English speaking adults for the pur- 
pose of teaching them the English language and American ideals of citizenship. 
Community singing was organized, and the creation of courses of instruction 
for women anxious to do war work and to take the places of men called to 
war was stimulated everywhere. An experimental training farm was opened 
and young women were trained in agricultural methods. Investigations of work- 
ing conditions of women and children were made and a careful watch kept of 
the enforcement of labor laws afifecting them. 

In other words, the problems of food, morals, health, education, recreation, 
the quality of citizenship and the securing of a greater measure of social and 
industrial democracy for women and children workers became largely the work 
of the women of the State (organized under the Woman's Committee) who felt 
called to the responsibility of maintaining intact, and strengthening, the social 
fabric throughout the state and of making our democracy at home real and worthy 
of the sacrifices of its soldiers and sailors. 

Origin and Early History 

In the first week of February, 1917, a few days after the German ambassador 
had been dismissed by President Wilson, Mrs. James W. Morrisson called a 
meeting of women to consider possible action if the country was to be plunged 
into war. About twenty or twenty-five were present, mainly the heads of the 
large organizations in the city. Opinions varied from those of the extreme 
pacifist to those of the most ardent advocate of immediate preparedness The 

105 



106 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

meeting was about to break up when a motion was made for a committee to 
investigate defense societies for women already organized in the east, and to be 
prepared to report recommendations, should the group be called together again. 
The committee consisted of Mrs. George Isham, Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, Mrs. 
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Mrs. Kellogg Fairbank, Mrs. Russell Tyson, and pos- 
sibly others ; these five women taking a leading part. 

Towards the end of March Mrs. Isham induced Mrs. Ira Couch Wood to make 
a study of the various preparedness societies which had been started in the East. 
Mrs. Wood was in Washington on April 2, when the President made his historic 
address to Congress calling for a declaration of war. The day following, a 
number of national organizations of women met in Washington for action. Mrs. 
Philip N. Moore of St. Louis, President of the National Council of Women, had 
called a meeting at the Willard Hotel ; the National League for Women's Serv- 
ice, recently organized in New York, was holding a conference at the Shoreham 
Hotel ; Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt and Miss Maude Wood Parke of the National 
American Woman's Suffrage Association were holding conferences with promi- 
nent women then present in Washington. 

Illinois Women Start Early 

Upon her return Mrs. Wood reported on the work being done in Boston, 
New York, Washington and Philadelphia, with some report of the conferences 
of the national women's organizations. This report, with an outline for a plan 
of an organization in Illinois, was presented informally to the Committee and 
was accepted, and it was decided that the whole plan be offered to the Chicago 
Chapter of the Red Cross to see if they wished to take up organization on the 
scale suggested, covering the dozen or more lines of activity. Mr. Marquis Eaton 
of the Chicago Chapter of the Red Cross, after consultation with his committee, 
decided that the Red Cross could not cover all of the different lines of service 
suggested, but that the Red Cross would take up only the lines of work that 
came within its well-known sphere. 

It was then decided to hold a general meeting on Monday, April 23, in the 
foyer of Orchestra Hall, and in the meantime the whole matter was presented 
to Governor and Mrs. Lowden and approved. The Orchestra Hall meeting was 
attended by representatives of the various state and city organizations of women 
"for the purpose of considering the best method of co-ordinating the work of 
women's organizations to meet conditions in this national crisis." 

Mrs. Ira Couch Wood presented her report recommending an organization 
for Illinois which should be a clearing house of women's activities and which 
should eliminate duplication of effort. In conclusion she said : 

"Let me add that I am convinced that the most valuable thing any 
woman can do for her country at this moment is to eliminate waste in 
every form ; to conserve food stuffs for the benefit of others ; to sim- 
plify life so that labor may be released to serve where it is most vitally 
needed ; to realize that patriotism is first an attitude of mind and soul ; 
that its expression should work from within outward — from home and 
city, to nation and allies; that neglect of home duties or local charities 
for War Relief is the worst form of unpreparedness. Patriotic service 
for our country and our allies, now our highest duty, must not be at the 
expense of any good work now being carried on, l3ut in addition to it, 
and at the expense of our ease, our leisure time, our entertainments and 
our luxuries. Patriotism is a serious purpose, not an hysterical outburst ; 
its strength is measured by its capacity for sustained devotion and un- 
tiring endeavor." 

This sentiment became the keynote of the varied activities which grew out 
of the organization formed at this meeting, and the plan suggested by Mrs. Wood 
was adopted in its general outline. This provided for a state advisory com- 
mittee composed of the presidents of all the state-wide organizations of women, 
and certain women to represent the state at large. A small executive committee 
was to be chosen from this body and the usual officers to be elected. The de- 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 107 

partments of work suggested were to be : Food Production, Thrift, Home 
Charities, Courses of Instruction, Women and Children in Industry, Education, 
Publicity, Finance, Red Cross and Allied Relief. 

Preliminaries of Organization 

A communication from Governor Lowden to the Orchestra Hall meeting 
stated that the plan of war work suggested by Mrs. Wood's report would fit in 
with the work of the State Council of Defense which he would be authorized to 
appoint very soon, and he asked that organization be delayed. On April 25 the 
papers gave news of the appointment of a Woman's Committee of the Council 
of National Defense, with Dr. Anna Howard Shaw as its chairman, and head- 
quarters in Washington, D. C. 

On the Friday following, all the women of the state were called to mourn 
the sudden death of Mrs. George Isham, who had been the prime mover in the 
organization of women to meet the national crisis. 

Announcement was shortly made of the appointment of the State Council 
of Defense of Illinois, with Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen as a member of it. The 
committee of women which was acting until a definite organization could be 
formed had previously chosen Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen to act as chairman in place 
of Mrs. Isham. 

About a week after the meeting in Orchestra Hall, temporary headquarters 
were established in the Garland Building. Meanwhile a copy of the general plan 
of organization adopted for Illinois was sent to the Woman's Committee of the 
Council of National Defense in Washingtqn. 

A mass meeting of women in the rooms of the Fortnightly early in May 
adopted completed plans for the woman's organization in Illinois. Mrs. Bowen 
was chosen permanent chairman; Mrs. George Plummer, secretary; Mrs. Cyrus 
Hall McCormick, treasurer ; Mrs. Ira Couch Wood, director. A list was prepared 
of the heads of the various organizations of Illinois, with some women to rep- 
resent the state at large, to form the Advisory Committee. The Finance Com- 
mittee became active and money was immediately pledged to carry on the work. 
At the close of this meeting Mrs. Bowen received word of her appointment by 
the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense as temporary chair- 
man for Illinois, but inasmuch as the organization was complete in Illinois and 
Mrs. Bowen chosen permanent chairman, it was not necessary to go through the 
procedure of having the temporary chairman call the meeting for organization 
as was done in the other states. 

The Executive Committee continued to meet in the little room of the Garland 
Building, with its furniture of two tables, one desk (loaned), a few chairs and 
several boxes to provide seats for the committee members. The first four volun- 
teers who came and offered their services were : Miss Virginia Chandler, Miss 
Margaret Reilley, Miss Mary Nixon and Miss Agnes Foreman. 

Settling Down to Real Work 

Mrs. Wood resigned as Director of the Illinois Committee to become Execu- 
tive Secretary of the Woman's Committee, Council of National Defense in Wash- 
ington. Mrs. Frederick Dow was chosen Vice-Chairman and Miss Harriett E. 
Vittum was appointed Director to succeed Mrs. Wood. The Information De- 
partment later grew out of the initiative of Miss Virginia Chandler, who saw the 
great need for this service and developed it. 

When the Woman's Committee in Washington sent out its plan of organ- 
ization it was found to be almost identical with that of the Illinois plan which 
was already in operation. There were a few minor changes in names of depart- 
ments, but the plan of work was practically identical. 

At the meeting in the Fortnightly rooms Mrs. Lowden had been made hon- 
orary chairman and after the appointment of the Woman's Committee of the 
Council of National Defense in Washington, two other women, Mrs. Antoinette 
Funk and Miss Agnes Nestor were chosen as honorary chairmen. 

On May 14, 1917, the office was moved to 60 East Madison Street. At the 
same time, the committee was offered quarters in the State Council of Defense 



108 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Building at 120 West Adams Street, so the executive offices were moved to that 
place, with Mrs. Bowen and Miss Vittum in charge, and the headquarters at 60 
East Madison Street, in charge of Miss Edna P. Strohm, Assistant Director, con- 
tinued to be known as Registration Headquarters. It was at this latter place that 
the memorable registration of women for war service began months before the 
state-wide registration drive took place. A little group consisting of Mrs. Harlan 
Ward Cooley, chairman of Registration, Miss Irene Warren, Mrs. E. J. Mc- 
Carty, and Mrs. H. B. Hull, spent hours in conference working out plans for that 
big event. An information desk was started under the direction of Miss Mar- 
garet Conover, who had as assistants. Miss Eleanor West, Miss Margaretta Blair, 
Mrs. Powell Pardee, Miss Estelle Ward and Mrs. Charlotte Kuh. 

The Conservation and Thrift Committee, under the chairmanship of Miss 
Isabel Bevier, established a desk with Miss Elizabeth Allen in charge, and an 
effective window display which showed food values and indicated foods to be 
used as substitutes. The Social Service Committee with Mrs. Dunlap Smith as 
Chairman, started its activities here with Miss Ethel Bird in charge. The 
Speakers' Committee, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Kellogg Fairbank, was 
actively conducted by her assistant. Miss Agnes Foreman. This little group, 
almost altogether rnade up of volunteer workers, was assisted by many other 
able and devoted volunteers among whom were : Mrs. Furness Hately, Mrs. 
Small, Mrs. H. M. Hoyt, Miss Mary Nixon, Mrs. George Meeker, Mrs. M. B. 
Hilly, Mrs. Russell Opdyke, Mrs. Frank Gordon. 

Meanwhile the work of administration and organization was going forward 
rapidly from the executive office at 120 West Adams Street, where a publicity 
committee began work under Miss Mary Waller, and an information committee 
under Miss Virginia Chandler. A Women and Children in Industry Committee 
under Mrs. Raymond Robins also established an office there. A group of faith- 
ful volunteers composed of Mrs. Robert Forgan, Mrs. Howard O'Brien, Mrs. 
E. S. Talbot, Jr., and Mrs. Frank Johnson, assisted regularly with the work, and 
took charge of a general information desk. 

On August 4, 1917, the branch headquarters at 60 East Madison street were 
merged with those at 120 West Adams street, and from that time all activities 
of the Woman's Committee were directed from the latter place until February 
1, 1919, when it ceased to exist as the Woman's Committee of the State Council 
of Defense, and became solely the Woman's Committee, Council of National 
Defense, Illinois Division, with offices in the Fine Arts Building. 

Officers and Committees Appointed 

Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen was from the first chairman of the Woman's Com- 
mittee ; Mrs. Frederick A. Dow, vice-chairman ; Mrs. Cyrus Hall McCormick, 
treasurer, and Mrs. George Plummer, secretary. 

An organization committee reported on a plan of work and committees were 
formed, a chairman for each being named as follows : 

Finance, Mrs. J. Ogden Armour ; Red Cross, Mrs. Philip Schuyler 
Doane ; Allied Relief, Mrs. Russell Tyson; Home Charities (later 
named Social Service), Mrs. Dunlap Smith; Thrift and Conservation, 
Miss Isabel Bevier; Courses of Instruction, Mrs. William S. Hefferan ; 
Food Production, Mrs. Henry M. Dunlap; Co-ordination (later named 
Organization), Miss Jessie I. Spafiford; Women and Children in In- 
dustry, Mrs. Raymond Robins ; Speakers, Mrs. Kellogg Fairbank ; Reg- 
istration, Mrs. Harlan Ward Cooley; Publicity, Mrs. Cecil Barnes. 
The following were named as members at large: Mrs. George W. 
Trout, Mrs. Frank Funk, Mrs. Edwin Johnson and Mrs. Henry Solo- 
mon.. 

An advisory council of 54 members was also appointed. The officers, to- 
gether with the chairmen of standing committee (later named departments) and 
members of a committee at large formed the Executive Committee. Later, 
standing committees or departments were added with chairmen as follows : 

War Information, Miss Virginia Chandler; Social Hygiene, Dr. 
Rachelle Yarros; Recreation for Girls, Mrs. B. F. Langworthy; Liberty 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 109 

Loan, Mrs. Howard T. Willson; Child Welfare, Mrs. Ira Couch Wood; 
Woman's Land Army, Mrs. Tiffany Blake ; Volunteer Placem.ent and 
Filing, Mrs. Robert S. DeGolyer; Americanization, Mrs. Edward 
Bemis. 

An Employment Department was opened in connection with the Courses of 
Instruction Department, and the Registration Department was merged with the 
Volunteer Placement and Filing Department. The Liberty Loan Department, in 
conformity with a ruling of the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee at Washing- 
ton, formally withdrew its organization from that of the Woman's Committee, 
in May, 1918. 

In the course of time Mrs. Willis Wood became recording secretary; Mrs. 
George R. Dean, corresponding secretary; the office of Director was discon- 
tinued, and Miss Edna P. Strohm became general executive secretary. To the 
Executive Committee were added as members at large: Mrs. Benjamin Auer- 
bach ; Mrs. Harlan Ward Cooley, following her resignation as chairman of the 
Registration Department; Mrs. Kellogg Fairbank, following her resignation as 
chairman of the Speakers' Department; Mrs. James W. Morrisson, Mrs. Arthur 
Ryerson, and Mrs. Howard T. Willson, following the withdrawal of the Liberty 
Loan Committee from the Woman's Committee, and Miss Estelle Ward. The 
change in personnel of department chairman from those mentioned above will 
be indicated in the department reports to follow. 

The membership body of the Woman's Committee was made up of repre- 
sentatives from all city-wide and state-wide women's organizations. These 
groups formed what were known respectively as the City Committee and the 
State Council and together they were known as the Advisory Committee. Their 
original membership totaled 54 ; it was gradually increased until it totaled 96. 
The membership of the organizations these members represented totaled 302,333. 
At the close of the work of the Woman's Committee, State Council of Defense, 
in February, 1919, the membership of the Advisory Committee was as follows : 

City Committee — 

Amberg, Mrs. Wm. A., Chicago. 

Bartlett, Miss Florence, Chicago, Secretary of Eleanor Association. 

Bartelme, Miss Mary, Chicago, Asst. Judge of the Juvenile Court. 

Baur, Mrs. Jacob, Chicago, Chicago Chairman Liberty Loan. 

Bley, Mrs. John C., Chicago, Pres. Housewives' League. 

Bloom, Mrs. Henry Max, Chicago, Johannah Lodge. 

Britton, Mrs. Gertrude Howe, Chicago. 

Breckenridge, Miss S. P., Chicago, Dean, School of Civics and 
Philanthropy. 

Burns, Mrs. Thos., Chicago, Catholic Woman's League. 

Coleman, Mrs. Jos. G., Chicago. 

Davis, Mrs. W. H., Chicago, Federation of Colored Women. 

Dean, Mrs. Richmond, Chicago. 

Dickson, Mrs. W. F., Chicago, British-American Woman's Club. 

Dow, Mrs. Arthur C, Chicago, Daughters of American Revolution. 

Dyson, Mrs. Orion E., Chicago, Arche Club. 

Evans, Mrs. Lynden, Chicago, Home Preparedness League and 
School of Domestic Arts and Science. 

Fairbank, Mrs. Kellogg, Chicago. 

Fursman, Mrs. Ida May, Chicago, President, Chicago Teachers' Fed- 
eration. 

Hamilton, Dr. Alice, Chicago, U. S. Government Expert Occupa- 
tional Diseases. 

Hefferan, Mrs. Wm. S., Chicago. 

Hobson, Mrs. Albion W., Chicago, Chicago Association, Collegiate 
Alumnae. 

Johnson, Mrs. Edwin T., Oak Park, Pres. Chicago Woman's Club. 

Judson, Mrs. Harry Pratt, Chicago, Woman's War Aid U. of C. 

King, Miss Florence, Chicago, Woman's Ass'n of Commerce. 

Levy, Mrs. Felix, Chicago, Pres. Council of Jewish Women. 

Martin, Mrs. Alfred T., Chicago, Pres. Daughters of the Flag. 



110 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Moody, Mrs. John W., Chicago, Chicago Guardian Ass'n of Camp 
Fire Girls. 

Morrisson, Mrs. Jas. W., Chicago, Chicago Equal Suffrage Ass'n. 

Munroe, Mrs. Chas. A., Chicago, Food Conservation Bureau. 

Pierce, Miss Katherine, Chicago, Junior League. 

Romberg, Mrs. Edwin, Chicago, Conference of Jewish Women's 
Organizations. 

Rosenwald, Mrs. Julius, Chicago. 

Ryerson, Mrs. Arthur, Chicago. 

Scliee, Miss Florence, Chicago, Altrusa Club. 

Schweizer, Mrs. Albert H., Chicago, Chicago Political Equality 
League. 

Smith, Mrs. Dunlap, Chicago, Woman's City Club. 

Solomon, Mrs. Henry, Chicago, Jewish Women's Organizations. 

Spofford, Miss Florence, Chicago, Emergency Drivers of Chicago. 

Stillman, Mrs. Chas. B., Wilmette, Federation of Women High 
School Teachers of Chicago. 

Temple, Miss Grace, Chicago, Chicago and Cook County War Thrift 
Stamps. 

Tunnicliff, Miss S. B., Chicago, Fuel Administration. 

Tyson, Mrs. Russell, Chicago, American Fund for French Wounded 
and Allied Relief. 

Van Buskirk, Mrs. Wni., Chicago, Pres. League of Cook County 
Clubs. 

Vittum, Miss Harriet E., Chicago, Chicago Federation of Settle- 
ments. 
State Council — 

Adams, Mrs. G. Cooke, Chicago, State Regent, Daughters of Brit- 
ish Empire. 

Ahrens, Miss Minnie, Chicago, Visiting Nurses Ass'n. 

Baker, Mrs. Mandlebert W., Springfield. 

Bevier, Miss Isabel, Urbana, Department of Household Sciences 
University of Illinois. 

Blake, Mrs. Tift'any, Chicago, Woman's Land Army, Illinois Divi- 
sion. 

Bullock, Mrs. Carl G., Ravinia, Chairman, Central Field Committee 
of Y. W. C. A. 

Busey, Mrs. Mary, Urbana, Trustee, University of Illinois. 

Cooley, Mrs. Harlan Ward, Chicago, Pres. Woman's Legislative 
Congress of Illinois. 

Countiss, Mrs. Frederick D., Chicago, Woman's Auxiliary of the 
Navy League. 

Dudley, Mrs. E. C, Chicago, Federation of Day Nurseries. 

Dunlap, Mrs. Henry M., Savoy, Member, Woman's Board, Farmers' 
Institute. 

Evans, Mrs. Laura B., Taylorville, Trustee, Univ. of 111. 

Fisher, Mrs. Mary Delany, Chicago, Illinois Woman's Press Ass'n. 

Fleming, Mrs. Harry L., Bloomington, Illinois Congress of Mothers 
and Parent-Teachers' Association. 

Foreman, Miss Agnes, Chicago, Woman's Auxiliary of the State 
Militia. 

Fucik, Mrs. Effie S., Chicago, The Rebekahs. 

Funk, Mrs. Frank, Bloomington. 

Gallery, Mrs. Daniel, Chicago, Rep. International Federation of 
Catholic Alumnae. 

Gross, Mrs. Alfred H., Evanston, Woman's Farm and Garden Ass'n. 

Gurney, Mrs. Alice V., Joliet, Ladies of the G. A. R. 

Hamilton, Dr. Carrie Lee, Mounds, Federation, Colored Women's 
Clubs. 

Hanley, Mrs. John H., Monmouth, Regent, Daughters American 
Revolution. 

Harris, Mrs. Benjamin, Champaign, 111. State Federation of Wom- 
en's Clubs. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 111 

Harrison, Miss Elizabeth, Chicago, National Kindergarten Ass'n. 

Hart, Mrs. Wm. H., Benton, 111. State Federation of Women's 
Clubs. 

Henrotin, Mrs. Ellen N., Chicago, Trustee, Univ. of 111. 

Hessler, Mrs. J. G., Decatur, Woman's Board of the 111. Farmers' 
Institute. 

Hinrichsen. Miss Anna, Springfield, State Charities. 

Hood, Miss Helen, Chicago, W. C. T. U. 

Mason, Mrs. John T., Aurora, 111. State Federation of Women's 
Clubs. 

Martin, Mrs. Franklin, Kenilvvorth. 

Mathes, Mrs. Geo. M., Chicago, Women's Church Federation. 

McBride, Mrs. Sadie R., Peoria, Worthy Grand Matron Order of 
Eastern Star of Illinois. 

McCulloch, Mrs. Catherine Waugh, Chicago, Pres. Woman's Bar 
Ass'n of 111. and 111. Sufifrage Amendment Alliance. 

Ochsner, Al^rs. Albert J., Chicago, Nat. Fed. of Musical Clubs. 

Patten, Mrs. Jas. A., Evanston, Northwestern University. 

Purvin, Mrs. Moses L., Chicago, State Federation of Women's 
Clubs. 

Pomeroy, Mrs. Katherine, Chicago, Ass'n of Collegiate Alumnae. 

Rittman, Mrs. Rose B., Chicago, Catholic Order of Foresters. 

Robins, Mrs. Raymond, Chicago, Pres. National Women's Trade 
Union League. 

Seymour, Mrs. Flora Warren, Chicago, 111. Div. Nat. Fed. o.f College 
Women. 

Seibert, Ida M., Chicago, Pres. Ladies of G. A. R. Dept. of Illinois. 

Severin, Mrs. Wm. S., Chicago, Pres. Republican Women's Asso- 
ciation of Illinois. 

Spafford, Miss Jessie I., Rockford, Pres. 111. Fed. of Woman's 
Clubs. 

Sheehan. Mrs. Eliza D., Chicago, Pres. Woman's Democratic Coun- 
cil of 111. 

Trout, Mrs. Grace Wilbur, Chicago, Pres. 111. Equal Suffirage Ass'n. 

Van Hoosen, Dr. Bertha, Chicago. Woman's Medical Society. 

Watson, Miss Florence, Tuscola, Trustee, Univ. of 111. 

Wells, Mrs. Edith A., Chicago, 111. Women's Relief Corps. 

Williams, Miss Cornelia B., Cliicago, Pres. 111. Society of Colonial 
Dames. 

Wiles, Mrs. Robert Hall, Chicago, United Daughters of 1812. 

Wilson, Mrs. J. Gordon, Chicago, Pres. Needlework Guild. 

Wilkinson, Mrs. E. B., Chicago, Woman's Benefit Ass'n of the 
Macabees. 

Yarros, Dr. Rachelle S., Chicago, Nat. Society of Social Hygiene. 

State Plan of Organization 

The State was organized according to congressional districts, counties, town- 
ships, cities and towns and school districts. The larger cities were organized 
into wards and in some cases into precincts and blocks. All county, city and 
town units were organized with officers and department chairmen. The number 
and kind of department chairmen depended on the needs of the locality. 

The county chairmen formed the main artery between State headquarters 
and the local units ; all units throughout the State reported to their county chair- 
men who in turn reported to State headquarters. The district chairmen of the 
Woman's Committee were appointed by the State Organization Department to 
act in an advisory capacity. The county chairmen were also appointed by that 
department. Chairmen of city or town units were elected at a meeting to which 
representatives of every woman's organization in the locality were invited. 
Township chairmen were appointed by the county chairmen or elected by the 
women of the township if a preliminary meeting of the rural women could be 
held. 



112 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

In every county of the State the county chairman of the Woman's Com- 
mittee was an ex-officio member of the County Auxiliary Committee and of the 
County Executive Committee of the State Council of Defense. Women nomi- 
nated by county chairmen were made members of the Neighborhood Committee 
centers of the State Council. 

Finances Provided For 

The Woman's Committee obtained headquarters, telephones, postage, the 
services of two stenographers, and a large amount of literature, furniture and 
office supplies from the State Council of Defense. 

The State registration of women made available, through the ten-cent regis- 
tration fee and contributions, the amount of $58,024.50 for the work of the 
Woman's Committee throughout the State. Half of each fee taken in the State 
remained in the treasury of the State headquarters for state work. 

By far the largest amount of money used by headquarters for Woman's 
Committee work was contributed by individuals and raised through the efforts of 
the Finance Department. 

The financing of the individual units and the county chairmen was a local 
problem. All registration fees of a county were turned over to the county chair- 
man who sent one-half to State headquarters and held the other half for her 
expenses and expenses incurred by chairmen in her county, except in cases of 
towns of over 5,000 population. These towns held one-half of their fees (the 
other half going to State headquarters) and paid their expenses from their half 
of the fees. 

Each county was asked by the State Finance Department to raise $1,000 
which was used for its Woman's Committee work. 

Machinery of Organization 

The Executive Committee held regular meetings every Tuesday. On the 
fourth Tuesday of each month it held a joint meeting with the City Committee 
and the State Council of the Woman's Committee. At this fourth meeting of 
the month, reports were made by the chairmen of departments. Four times a 
year these meetings were turned over to hearing the reports of affiliated organ- 
izations. 

A monthly bulletin, containing reports of departments and items of special 
achievement among the various counties was sent to all county and unit chair- 
men throughout the State. A weekly news letter was sent through the State 
to daily and weekly newspapers and to publicity chairmen. 

Large amounts of literature were distributed in every county and speakers 
from the Chicago office were sent to every county. Preparatory to registration 
and the second Food Pledge drive, six trained organizers worked in different 
parts of the State. From time to time a State organization advisor strengthened 
the organization in different parts of the State. The State Council News was 
sent to every chairman in the State. Six State conferences at which chairmen 
from all parts of the State were present were held during the period of the 
Woman's Committee's existence. 

A staff of 33 employees was maintained at State headquarters and 128 vol- 
unteers gave regular service at the State headquarters' office. It has been estim- 
ated that 20,000 women in Illinois gave regular, active volunteer service in the 
work of the Woman's Committee and that the membership of all the units con- 
sisting of over 300,000 women gave individually some form of volunteer service. 

General Activities 

During the first days of organization, a majority of the activities of the 
Woman's Committee were handled through the executive office, but as depart- 
ments were formed and developed with their own office force and equipment, 
the work became highly specialized and all matters falling within the scope of 
departments were taken care of therein. 

However, there was always a great pressure of work that had to do with 
formulating plans and policies, with interviewing chairmen and the public and 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 113 

with executive and administrative problems that occupied insistently and con- 
tinuously the complete time of the chairman and vice-chairman, Mrs. Joseph T. 
Bowen and Mrs. Frederick A. Dow. They held regular daily office hours, work- 
ing early and late with their correspondence, conferences and interviews, and 
speaking on all possible occasions to the full limit of their strength. 

In August, 1918, the committee was asked by Surgeon-General Gorgas to 
use its organization throughout the State in registering student nurses for army 
hospitals and civilian hospitals. The vice-chairman, Mrs. Frederick A. Dow, 
assumed the responsibility of this drive, supervising the mailing of registration 
blanks and literature to every unit. Trained nurses were recruited from our 
registration cards to assist in giving information to applicants. In some sections 
of the State the interest in the drive was so great that the local units not only 
accomplished the registration of their quotas but financed the outfitting of the 
accepted students as well. 

The Woman's Committee took part in the big War Exposition held in Grant 
Park, September 2 to 14, 1918. Three large sized booths were filled with exhibits 
and demonstrations. A daily program was ofifered in which the work of the 
diliferent departments was set forth. Gifts and talents of our foreign born 
citizens were presented in the interests of the Americanization work; conserva- 
tion of clothing was visualized by the exhibit of made-over garments ; food 
demonstrations were conducted ; children were weighed and measured ; drills 
were given by the Patriotic Service League girls ; films portraying the results of 
social diseases were shown, and classes in telegraphy took place. 

On October 12, the committee took part in one of the largest parades ever 
staged in the city of Chicago. Their section of the parade covered three blocks. 

A noteworthy piece of work was lending assistance to the agencies organ 
izing relief for the influenza epidemic. The registration cards were used for 
securing volunteer nurses, visiting housekeepers, and automobiles for carrying 
the visiting nurses on their visits. Appeals of a nursing character were directed 
to the Red Cross. Other services such as cooking, cleaning, preparation of food 
and the care of children were handled by the Child Welfare Department. 

A word must be said in chronicling the story of those exciting days of big 
drives and unaccustomed ventures — often anxious, tense days when the news 
from the western front was dark and gloomy — of the cheerful and unfailing 
devotion and loyalty of the office staf?. Mrs. Maud R. Turlay, who handled the 
larger part of the State correspondence that had to do with organization matters, 
did a fine and difficult piece of work. Miss Burnette RadclifFe and Miss Helen 
Larson, who assisted with the work of the general office, won the admiration of 
their co-workers for their steady and faithful service. 

A whole volume of praise could be written of women's volunteer service as 
it was developed through war service and especially in the State headquarters. 
It will have to suffice at this point to say that it more than vindicated itself of 
any unkind aspersions cast upon it in the past. Volunteer service became stan- 
dardized and efficient and the volunteer worker took her place beside the paid 
and trained worker as one equal in ability, intelligence, responsibility and quality 
of work turned out. 

There is not space in this volume to tell in detail the work of the various 
departments. That will be found in the full report of the Woman's Committee 
published separately. Only a summary of results can be given here. 

Organization Department 

When the Organization Department mobilized the woman power of Illinois 
for war work, a great democratizing force was created ; 300,000 women of all 
classes became united under one standard — service. 

When Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen attended the National Conference of Women's 
Organizations at Washington in May, 1918, she noted with alarm that the map 
in the assembly hall showed one black spot. That black spot was Illinois. Upon 
inquiry, however, she found this did not indicate disgrace. Illinois was marked 
with black so that it would stand out prominently as the only completely organ- 
ized state in the Union. 



114 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

The Organization Department was composed of the 25 Congressional Dis- 
trict Presidents of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, the State Presi- 
dent of the Parent-Teachers' Association. The State President of the Church 
Federation and the State President of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Illinois 
Farmers' Institute. Its members were as follows : 

Miss Jessie I. Spafiford, Rockf ord, Chairman ; Mrs. John T. Mason, 
Aurora, Vice-Chairman ; Mrs. Maud R. Turlay, Chicago, Executive 
Secretary; Mrs. B. F. Langworthy, River Forest; Mrs. Geo. M. Mathes, 
Chicago; Mrs. J. G. Hessler, Decatur; Mrs. E. S. Bailey, Chicago; 
Mrs. Henry W. Hardy. Chicago; Mrs. A. W. Augur, Chicago; Mrs. 
Frank Jerome, Chicago; Mrs. Chas. E. Greenfield, Chicago; Mrs. Wm. 
J. Benson, Chicago; Mrs. Ransom E. Kennicott, Des Plaines ; Mrs. 
Luther Conant, Oak Park; Mrs. C. D. Jeffers, Chicago; Mrs. Martin 
K. Northam, Chicago; Mrs. H. J. Sawyer, Joliet; Dr. Mareva D. 
Brown, DeKalb ; Mrs. W. P. Graham, Rochelle; Mrs. A. S. Edwards, 
Moline; Mrs. W. A. Spies, Abingdon; Mrs. W. K. Trimble, Princeton; 
Mrs. Fred W. Longman, Lincoln ; Mrs. E. B. Griffin, Grant Park ; Mrs. 
Frank L. Frailey, Urbana ; Mrs. Edgar D. Glandon, Pittsfield; Mrs. 
J. T. Savage, Carlinville ; Mrs. J. M. Daniels, Greenville; Mrs. A. T. 
Midget, Robinson; Mrs. Chas. H. Melrose, Grayville; Mrs. Nellie Sear- 
ing, Carbondale. 

A county chairman was appointed in each county to serve for the duration 
of the war, to direct the work of all units throughout her county. She formed 
the main point of contact between the State headquarters and the local units. 
Local units reported to county chairmen, who in turn reported to State head- 
quarters. Chairmen of city or town units were elected and township chairmen 
were appointed by the county chairman, or elected. The larger cities were organ- 
ized into wards and in some cases into precincts and even blocks. The county 
chairmen represented the Woman's Committee on the County Executive Com- 
mittee of the State Council of Defense. This was the executive war board of 
the county for both men's and women's war work. 

Speakers, Organisers, Meetings, Literature — In September, 1917, six trained 
organizers were engaged for a month to speak in different parts of the State. 
County chairmen received first-hand information from the organizers and were 
inspired to take up the county work with energy and enthusiasm. Many volun- 
teer speakers increased the interest. In the spring of 1918, Mrs. Kate Wood 
Ray was engaged for this work, and her trips covered three weeks each, with 
an intermission of one week in every four, until the middle of July. During the 
twenty-two weeks that Mrs. Ray traveled, she visited 74 counties, 139 cities and 
towns, made 171 speeches and held 232 conferences, exclusive of interviews at 
the State Fair. Monthly meetings were held in every county for the purpose of 
discussing the plans and problems of each department and of the local units. 
A pamphlet covering the plan of organization was prepared and issued to county 
and township chairmen. 

Membership — The membership of local organizations and of counties alto- 
gether for Illinois is indicative of the interest shown in war activities among 
women all through the State. Every county and local chairman accepted her 
responsibility with enthusiasm and personal sacrifice. Many counties opened offices 
in central locations, so that information could be obtained regarding women's 
county war work. It is the general opinion of the county chairmen that 
the organization has helped the women of the State as nothing has ever done 
before. It is the first time in the history of Illinois that the women have dem- 
onstrated the value of organization and have realized the benefits that may be 
derived from unified effort. A splendid community spirit has been created 
which will live on after the war. It is believed that men and women will work 
together for civic good more enthusiastically than ever before and organizations 
that have learned the value of co-ordination will join together for community 
improvement. Whatever the Woman's Committee may have accomplished by 
%vay of material contribution to the success of the allied forces may never be 
definitely established, but significant over any material contribution is the real- 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 115 

ization that has come to women through this nation-wide organization of their 
proven strength and the potential strength they can develop. It has been a self- 
revelation never to be forgotten and never again disregarded. 

Finance Department 

When the Woman's Committee began its work, it was given a large part of 
its support from the State Council of Defense. As the number of its depart- 
ments increased and the programs of all the departments developed, it was 
readily seen that the committee would need a larger amount of money than it 
had at its command. The Executive Committee felt that it could not limit its 
program for lack of funds, nor could it be constantly harassed by the realization 
that it was running close to the margin in financial matters. 

The Finance Department raised between May and November, 1917, the 
amount of $3,955.23. This was done through the efforts of Mrs. J. Ogden 
Armour, the first chairman of the department. Mrs. Armour resigned in Novem- 
ber because of ill health, Mrs. Charles E. Frankenthal succeeded her, Mrs. 
Arthur Z. Ryerson became vice-chairman, and the department was reorganized 
on the basis of including a number of women who would act as heads of units, 
each pledged to raise $1,000. When Mrs. Ryerson went to France in May, 1918, 
Mrs. Edward A. Leicht became vice-chairman. 

Getting the Funds — It was planned to raise in all $100,000. The unit plan 
worked successfully. A group of women raised $48,972.17 through letters and 
personal solicitation. In addition, the Finance Department devised a number 
of money-making plans which it put into execution. Among them were : Par- 
ticipation in the Christmas Tree Festival at the Coliseum, Christmas week, 1917, 
which netted $1,695.03; a musical at the Blackstone under the direction of Mrs. 
J. Harry Selz, netting $655.25 ; the exhibition of an Innes picture at Young's 
Gallery, netting $278.00; the presentation in April, 1918, for one week, at the 
Auditorium Theatre, of a war film, "Belgium, the Kingdom of Grief," netting 
$11,500.00; and finally a city-wide "Liberty Potato Chip Campaign," held for 
five days, netting $6,260.11. The teachers of Chicago formed a unit and raised 
$2,000. 

In connection with the raising of $100,000 it was thought advisable, for the 
good of the Woman's Committee work, to place a quota of $1,000 on each 
county, which that county should raise and use for its own work. 

The following counties either filled or oversubscribed their quota of $1,000 
each : Bureau, Kankakee, Boone, Knox, McLean, Menard, Peoria and Wash- 
ington. Other counties that raised funds were : Adams, Calhoun, Edgar, Ed- 
wards, Effingham, Franklin, Gallatin, Grundy, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, 
Kane, LaSalle, McHenry, Macoupin, Marshall, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Pike, 
Randolph, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash and Woodford. 

Financial Statement— Receipts of the committee from all sources (includ- 
ing donations, proceeds of articles sold, registration fees, etc.) and all expendi- 
tures from May 9, 1917, to February 28, 1919, are shown by the statement of the 
treasurer, Mrs. Cyrus Hall McCormick, as follows : 

Receipts 
Registration Collections — 

Chicago $14,729.84 

State - 21,647.33 

$36,377.17 

Finance Department 91,948.39 

Donations to Salaries, Miscellaneous Contributions, Sales, 

etc 26,021.52 

• — $154,347.08 



116 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Disbursements 

Salaries $41,408.17 

Traveling Expense 3,039.96 

Printing, Multigraphing, etc 9,493.99 

Furniture and Fixtures 1,661.72 

Office Supplies 1,342.09 

Farm Expense*— Liberty ville 4,83 5.90 

Expense — General — 

Counties $7,300.35 

Wards 3,053.01 

Donations (to Departments) 6,187.50 

General 18,917.63* 

35,458.49 

Work Funds 160.00 

Cash on hand 56,947.06 

$154,347.08 

•Includes typewriter rentals, hall rentals, telegraph bills, moving bills, signs, 
express charges, payment for services not on the salary list, etc. 

Assistance to Other Bodies—Since August, 1918, the Finance Department 
organized committees for and held tag days with results, as follows: 

Belgian Babies' Forget-Me-Not Day ■ $58,911.64 

Chicago Children's Benefit League 81,142.93 

Fatherless Children of France 41,978.83 

Passavant and Lying-in Hospitals 38,499.04 

Permanent Blind Relief War Fund 49,694.98 

Crippled Children 38,052.67 

American Fund for French Wounded - ■— . 10,003.57 

British War Orphans 20,000.00 

Our Boys — Welcome Home Total receipts not yet determined 

Through the efforts of the members of the Finance Department nearly 
$1,000,000 of the Third Liberty Loan was taken, about $1,061,000 of the Fourth 
Liberty Loan and $850,000 of the Victory Loan. 

Wykr Information Department 

The department of War Information was established with Miss Virginia G. 
Chandler as chairman. (Later the name of Educational Propaganda was added) 
and its purpose was defined officially as follows : 

(1) To help standing committees by having on hand available 
information relating to similar work in Canada, England, France and 
other European countries as well as in other states in the Union. 

(2) To supply speakers with accurate and new material. 

(3) To collect and classifiy, for distribution, data on the scope of 
the war and its bearing on woman's problems, the needs which the war 
had created and the means lying within woman's reach for alleviating 
and relieving those needs. 

(4) To form an accurate record useful for research work. 

Meeting a Real Need — On June 12, 1917, the office was ready for work, its 
file case rapidly filling, and pamphlet collections already tnade which necessitated 
th© assistance of a trained librarian. During the first months, special service was 
given to the Department of Courses of Instruction. Then to supply speakers 
with desired material, the department had to undertake another service. It had 
soon found that no one man or woman had either time or inclination to read 
and digest the unattractive pamphlets and monographs prepared by experts and 
authorities, so the department set about preparing digests of the government 
pamphlets and other authorities. Exchanges of plans with the State Councils of 
other states were effected, and through the kindness of librarians in Philadelphia 
and Augusta, Georgia, clippings from local newspapers were added to the col- 
lections. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 117 

Form Speeches Prepared — In the spring of 1918, the department began to 
issue form speeches. Much help was received in this work from the members of 
the Propaganda Committee of the Chicago Fortnightly. Their contributions 
also included excerpts from interesting private letters from men and women in 
the war districts ; a collection of war poetry which was in constant use by 
speakers, and much data from members of the faculty of the University of 
Chicago. In the fall and early winter of 1917, to awaken the public generally to 
the seriousness of the war situation, to spread better understanding of the under- 
lying causes of the war, and to offset premature "peace talk," the department 
induced the University of Chicago to offer a popular course in its correspondence 
school on "Backgrounds of the War." 

Singleness of Purpose — The department kept constantly in mind that its 
reason for being lay in its ability to send out information. It was never satisfied 
with the mere collection of material. Its first and always its most useful agency 
lay in its war information chairmen, of whom it had 498, located in all parts of 
the State. Many counties became so highly organized that it was possible to 
obtain a very definite picture of conditions there by simply consulting their 
reports in response to the department's questionnaire. From their replies it was 
possible to send out printed and written material with much greater intelligence 
and so avoid sending patriotic pamphlets in German to a strictly English speak- 
ing population, or stories suited to workers in factories into farming districts. 
These war information chairmen developed methods of their own in ways of 
using the material sent to them from the department. One woman whose hus- 
band kept a general store read aloud to the customers. Others saw that clubs 
and fraternal orders used interesting and instructive materials at their meetings. 
Women's clubs were sent circular letters, with bibliographies, bringing to their 
notice programs for the coming year on subjects of timely interest. 

Activities Extended — The writing of magazine articles by several members of 
the committee was later taken over by the Publicity Department and developed 
into a larger affair than this department had contemplated. 

Study of war conditions abroad suggested that the United States would 
probably develop an accentuated interest in child welfare as a direct result of 
war conditions. Four broadsides were prepared setting forth in graphic form 
the facts and figures on waste of child life abroad and in the United States, 
rhey were hardly completed before Miss Julia Lathrop launched her project of 
the Children's Year and the broadsides were taken over by the Child Welfare 
Department of Illinois. A short bulletin on Conservation, emphasizing not how 
to conserve but why, also had a large circulation. 

In March, 1918, the department saw its long-cherished plan of a printed 
monthly report of the work of the departments accomplished. 

All War Work Aided — Outside of the Woman's Committee, assistance was 
given to every war activity. The bibliography for the Third Liberty Loan cam- 
paign was prepared by the department and was distributed from Springfield to 
every library in the State. A popular hand dodger was prepared suggesting the 
range of subjects covered by the department's patriotic literature, and suggest- 
ing means for its possible use. A post card so arranged that the recipient need 
only check the pamphlet wished for was extensively used to advertise it. Thus 
waste of literature was avoided. Responses were received from all parts of the 
United States. During the summer of 1918, the Teachers' Institutes were circu- 
larized and out of 54 institutes, 36 responded and brought the subject of using 
patriotic literature supplied by this department to the notice of teachers. With 
the advice and help of certain high school teachers, a plan was worked out for 
active and systematic co-operation between the public schools of Chicago and 
the department, and a little later the high schools of the State. As a consequ- 
ence, between January 1st and 27th, 142.613 pamphlets were distributed to these 
high schools at their own request. This means not only that the literature was 
carefully read in class, but was passed on and on. 

Getting at the Public — The Information Department has not been satisfied 
to wait for the public to come to it, but has sought the public. With the aid of 
its 498 representatives through the State, the following groups have been reached 



118 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

at different times: Summer hotels, libraries, county institutes, county fairs, 
churches, high schools (grade schools to a limited extent), women's clubs, fra- 
ternal organizations, church societies and church schools. The literature that 
has been distributed has been issued by the Committee on Public Information, 
the Council of National Defense, the State Council of Defense, the Woman's 
Committee Council of National Defense, the War Information Department and 
such government bodies as the United States Food Administration, Department 
of Agriculture, Liberty Loan Committee, Department of Labor, Children's 
Bureau, the British Information Service, the University of Chicago and the 
Union League Club of Chicago. 

Publicity Department 

The Publicity Department of the Woman's Committee was established in 
May, 1917, under the direction of a Publicity Committee, with Mrs. Cecil Barnes 
as chairman. She was succeeded in June, 1917, (on account of unavoidable 
absence from the city) by Mrs. Walter S. Brewster, who resigned in October, 
1917, on account of press of other duties, and was succeeded in December, 1917, 
by Mrs. Joseph G. Coleman. 

The Publicity Department conducted an office continuously after June, 1917, 
establishing close connections with all the Chicago newspapers, and co-operating 
in creating publicity for all national drives in which the women were active — 
food conservation, coal conservation, food production, war gardens, child wel- 
fare, etc. With the exception of one paid employe from June 15, 1918, to Octo- 
ber 15 of the same year, the work of the department was conducted entirely by 
volunteers, one or more members of the committee giving eight hours a day six 
days a week at the headquarters, gathering and putting into shape news for the 
Chicago papers, which sent women reporters to headquarters daily for the news. 

Special Undertakings — Besides these daily duties, the committee and depart- 
ment initiated or conducted many special undertakings. On June 12, 1917, a 
down-state news letter, to local publicity chairmen, was instituted. During July, 
1917, the committee conducted a special drive in the interest of food conserva- 
tion. In October, 1917, the initial registration of women took place, receiving 
special attention from the department. In December, with the conservation of 
sugar a necessity, the committee undertook a campaign for sugar substitutes, 
offering money prizes for Christmas candy made without white sugar, the 
recipes being printed, and sold at a profit of $266. In January, 1918, there 
was another prize contest for meat substitutes, and these recipes also were 
printed and 1,000 copies sold. 

Magazine Section — Late in April, 1918, a Magazine Section was created 
under Mrs. Roy Dickey, Vice-Chairman of the Publicity Committee. Its first 
meeting, on June 7th, was attended by more than 150 well-known magazine 
writers and journalists, 85 of whom signed up for service. All Illinois maga- 
zines and leading magazines of the country were offered gratuitous data, special 
articles, fiction, personality material, etc., of a propaganda character, and 79 
reported a willingness to use such service. Any intensive magazine campaign 
was postponed until fall, as the workers in the magazine section were needed 
in down-state and Chicago publicity during the summer, when the working 
force was depleted, the publicity department at this time being called upon to 
aid several special campaigns, including Belgian Baby Day, the centennial of 
Illinois, and the Nurses Recruiting Drive. In October, the magazine section 
again became active, and in the short period to signing of the armistice had 
articles printed in eight magazines of national circulation. 

Centennial Promoted — The department conducted, at the request of the Illi- 
nois Centennial Commission, a campaign for centennial celebrations throughout 
the state. Thirty pageants or other centennial celebrations were arranged as 
a result of its efforts. Forty-six additional towns agreed to stage centennial 
plays for school children. The influenza epidemic prevented further centennial 
celebrations and stopped ten of those which had been arranged. 

During the summer of 1918 the Publicity Committee also set on foot a 
movement to practice small self-denials and turn over the money so saved to war 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 119 

purposes, giving this movement the name of The Do-Without Club. Over 2,000 
members were secured for this club from September, 1918, to January 1, 1919. 
A state organization was built up consisting of 97 township chairmen, 8 junior 
chairmen and 18 county chairmen for the Do-Without Club, or a total of 123. 

Organisation and Results — The Publicity Department during its existence 
had, besides some local unit chairmen who preferred to attend to publicity work 
themselves, 78 county publicity chairmen ; 390 town publicity chairmen, and 20 
ward publicity chairmen, or 488 in all. No accurate record is obtainable of the 
amount of space devoted to Woman's Committee publicity in the down-state papers. 
Only a few down-state clippings reached headquarters, but these few showed 
96,236 agate lines of free down-state publicity, and 139 illustrated articles. In 
Chicago at least one article relative to the work of the Woman's Committee 
appeared in one or more of the Chicago newspapers every day from May, 1917, 
on, some papers making a regular "feature" of it. The Chicago clipping books 
alone show that the department secured in about one and one-half years 315,140 
agate lines of free publicity, and 501 illustrated articles; value, $173,327, if 
placed through commercial channels. The members of the Publicity Depart- 
ment during its life were: 

Mrs. Joseph Medill Patterson Miss Caroline Kirkland 

Mrs. James Keeley Miss Lucy Smith 

Mrs. William R. Hearst Miss Mary Waller 

Mrs. Julian Mason Miss Marion Strobel 

Mrs. Hopewell Rogers Mrs. Roy Dickey 

Statistics Do Not Tell All — It was the work of the Publicity Department 
to report the achievements of all the diiiferent departments of the Woman's 
Committee. It is difficult to show by figures and statistics the exact nature of 
the work done, or the untiring service received from every member of the 
committee. Neither can any report of the number of newspaper items pub- 
lished, the number of agate lines of free space secured, or their value in dollars 
and cents, afford any adequate idea of the amount of work done ; for, weekly, 
quantities of material were gathered and hundreds of items prepared and fur- 
nished to the press of the state which, owing to the exigencies of space, never 
appeared in print. 

Speakers' Department 

The Speakers' Bureau of the Woman's Committee, Council of National 
Defense, Illinois Division, commenced its activities on June 1, 1917, and had 
(including two added later) the following members: 

Mrs. Kellogg Fairbank, Chairman ; Miss Agnes Foreman, Vice- 
Chairman ; Mrs. Frederick Elijah, Mrs. Lambert O. Wile, Miss 

Christine Tomlins, Miss Edith Bramshall, Mrs. Edward H. Taylor and 

Mrs. James Angell. 

When Miss Foreman took the chairmanship of the War Savings Woman's 
Committee in January, 1918, Mrs. Taylor became Vice-Chairman, and on the 
retirement of Mrs. Fairbank in June, 1918, Mrs. Taylor became Chairman. 

The aim of the department at first was to enlighten the women of Illinois 
on the causes back of the war, and demonstrate why they should line up to 
support it. Then an effort was made to give women definite instruction in 
regard to just how they could go about the task of winning the war. After 
the armistice was signed, the aim was to urge women of the state to set about 
solving the problems of readjustment and to put over a definite program cover- 
ing such vital subjects as Americanization, Child Welfare and Thrift; in a 
word, to keep the women who were organized for war activities at work on 
peace problems, and to do this without losing impetus. 

It took some time for the public to realize that the purpose of the bureau 
was not for entertainment. It was necessary to educate the woman asking 
for a speaker. 

Many Speakers and Subjects — There were 315 women enrolled in the 
Bureau. Most of these women gave their spare time outside of regular occu- 
pations ; others gave practically all their time ; and each one was a volunteer, 



120 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



although a number had been accustomed to charging large fees before the war. 
At first the Bureau was besieged by women who craved to hear the sound of 
their own voices in public. A good percentage of these had not lifted a finger 
to do war work. They were told to go out and do some practical war work 
and then come back ; one could not make a definite speech on the war unless 
one had done definite war work. The following is a list of subjects which 
have been covered, together with the number of speeches made on each one : 



Patriotic 200 

Work of the Woman's Committee.. ..200 

War Talks from Over There 67 

Food Production 55 

Red Cross and Allied Relief 15 

Social Hygiene 7 

Recreational Work for Girls 243 

Conservation 137 

Registration 20 

Social Service 20 

Child Welfare 126 

Women and Children in Industry.... 11 

Liberty Loan 13 

Re-education of the Handicapped 5 

War Information 2 

Woman's Land Army S 

War and the Movies 4 

Hisorical Background of the War.... 3 

Vocational Supervision 2 

Americanization 21 



Clothes Conservation 13 

Training Women for Service 1 

New Fields of Work for Women... 3 

Foreign Child 1 

Fuel Conservation 1 

War Posters 8 

United War Work 29 

Fatherless Children of France 2 

Women and the War 12 

Art and the War 3 

Home Nursing 1 

Reconstruction 22 

Illinois Centennial 1 

Blind Fund 2 

Patriotic Readings 2 

Christmas Festival 1 

Better Speech ] 

War Stamps 1 

Crippled Children 1 

Poland 1 



After the armistice was signed the following subjects were added: 

Increasing value of the baby. 

Reconstruction of Ideals. 

Responsibilities that Peace Has Brought to Women. 

Value of the Individual Effort in Reconstruction. 

New Attitude Toward Democracy. 

The New Art of Democracy — The Moving Picture. 

Reconstructing our Kitchens. 

Our Attitude Toward the Returned Soldier. 

The New Social Service. 

Women and the Land. 

Hungry Europe. 

Clothes Conservation. 

Organizations Addressed — Speakers from, the Bureau appeared before the 
following organizations and in the following places (the figures represent 
the number of times they have appeared before the various organizations) : 



Factories and Stores 91 

Food Shows 1 

Clubs 291 

Wards in Chicago 110 

Schools 87 

Theatres 18 

Social Settlements 18 

Churches 39 

Patriotic Leagues ....._. 203 

Parent-Teachers' Associations 30 

Foreign Societies 12 



Red Cross Auxiliaries 11 

Fraternal Orders and Lodges 44 

Conventions 6 

C. N. D 277 

Fairs 5 

Chautauquas .._. 8 

Teachers' Institutes 19 

Colored Meetings 5 

Civic Leagues 11 

Y. W. C. A 4 

Miscellaneous 52 



In addition to this it may be interesting to note: 

Total number of people reached to date 533.754 

Total number of meetings held to date 2,100 

Total number of towns reached outside of Chicago 382 

Total number of cities reached outside of Illinois 20 



The Bureau's speakers have appeared in the following towns outside of the 



state ; 



Hammond, Ind. 
Gary, Ind. 
Lowell, Ind. 
Elkhorn, Wis. 



Whiting, Ind. 
Milwaukee, Wis. 
West AlHs, Wis. 
Lansing, Mich. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 121 

Racine, Wis. St. Louis, Mo. 

South Bend, Ind. Lincoln, Neb. 

Peru, Ind. Akron, O. 

Dewey Lake, Wis. Marshall, Mich. 

Calls came from Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Wyoming and South Carolina 
The above figures do not include work on the various "drives." For 
instance, the Bureau turned over its speakers in toto to "drives" of the following 
organizations : War Savings Stamps, United States Food Administration, Lib- 
erty Loan, Registration Committee, Red Cross, War Camp Community Service, 
United War Work Campaign. The figures on attendance, etc., include only 
assignments filled for the Woman's Committee. 

Special Campaiyns — During October and November, 1917, the speakers urged 
registration for war service, and the signing of the Hoover Pledge card. Prac- 
tically every school in the city of Chicago, all of the women's clubs, churches, 
theatres and social settlements, were covered. During the Liberty Loan 
"drives," special speakers' classes were conducted to train the women to speak 
efi^ectively on the subject. During the summer of 1917, over thirty county fairs 
were covered on food conservation and general service. On January 1, 1918, 
a special sub-committee on Factories and Stores was created, the purpose of 
which was to arouse interest and enthusiasm among the women and girls 
employed in stores and factories for the purchase of war savings stamps. 
More than 9,000 were reached in 104 factories at noon time. Women and 
girls were pathetically eager to do something to help win the war. When they 
discovered they could lend their dimes and quarters to the government and in 
that way help equip some soldiers for duty, and incidentally make a good 
investment for themselves, the combination proved to be irresistible. In Janu- 
ary, 1918, another sub-committee was formed — on German societies — under Mrs. 
Frank Scott. Child welfare and vocational work for the handicapped were chosen 
as the subjects most likely to appeal to the German- American clubs. 

Work Reorganized and Extended — On June 1, 1918, when Mrs. Kellogg Fair- 
bank resigned on account of her work in connection with the National Liberty 
Loan Committee, the department was reorganized. A system of cards was 
devised whereby accurate records of assignments could be kept and reports 
made on the speakers and departments whose activities the speaker had pre- 
sented. A poster to be used as publicity for tours down through the state was 
adopted. Down-state units were sent a questionnaire which produced requests 
for 75 meetings, the names of twenty-five women who could do public speaking, 
and several dates for food production meetings. Circularization of 1,000 
women's clubs, every Parent-Teachers Association, about 100 fraternal orders, 
the granges and Chautauquas, produced over 150 engagements. About this time 
a new kind of patriotic service, that of entertainment, was taken up; but the 
main work of the Bureau continued to be to carry the messages of the Woman's 
Committee paramount interests, with speakers and others filling special engage- 
ments. Twenty teachers' institutes were addressed. There was special co-opera- 
tion with the War Work Campaign, with the Food and Fuel Administrations, 
and with many war aid and relief organizations. To make the Bureau's work 
more systematic, chairmen were appointed to represent the Speakers' Committee 
in 15 counties : Adams, Alexander, Champaign, Franklin, Grundy, Jackson, 
Jefferson, Knox, Marshall, Morgan, Macoupin, Pulaski, Richland, Stephenson, 
Williamson. Local chairmen were appointed in Cairo, Champaign, Robinson, 
Galesburg, Prairie City, Bushnell, Decatur, Carlinville, Byron and Joliet. 

After the Armistice — In spite of the signing of the armistice, November was 
one of the biggest months the bureau had experienced. The women of Illinois 
showed an interest in after-war work, and the result was a flood of requests 
for reconstruction speakers. F. L. Allen, Chief of the Speakers' Department 
of the Field Division of the Council of National Defense, at Washington, sent 
for a complete schedule of the bureau's plans and methods and forms, so that 
he could suggest them to speaker's bureaus in other states. Then December, 
1918, brought the biggest month the Speakers' Bureau had experienced : Sixty 
more meetings than any other month since the bureau was organized; speakers 



122 State council of defense 

were supplied for 231 meetings; attendance twice that of the month of November. 
Most of .the work was done with the woman's clubs and Woman's Committee 
units, with increasing demand for talks on Reconstruction and Americanization. 
A few of the representative subjects covered were: "Increasing Value of the 
Baby"; "Reconstruction of Ideals"; "Responsibilities that Peace Has Brought 
to Women" ; "Value of Individual Effort in Reconstruction" ; "Re-Education 
of the Handicapped"; "The New Art of Democracy — The Moving Picture": 
"Reconstructing Our Kitchens" ; "The New Social Service" ; "Women and the 
Land"; "Hungry Europe"; "Clothes Conservation." Work was continuous along 
this line, and after January 10, 1919, the bureau took on the functions of the 
Unified Bureau of Public Speakers of the State Council of Defense. The 
bureau acquired the reputation of being able to fill all sorts of speaking engage- 
ments from a talk on child welfare to an afternoon of patriotic readings. One 
of the most valuable helps in keeping the work alive was speakers' meetings. 
At stated intervals all speakers met and the chairmen of the various departments 
of the Woman's Committee addressed them on the work of their respective com- 
mittees. This supplied the speakers with new material. To give the best pos- 
sible service, the bureau also had a series of classes in public speaking to train 
women to do effective platform work. During the fall of 1917, there were 
two classes ; in January, 1918, a class of 35 for ten weeks ; about the middle 
of April another of 15; and another in September, 1918. 

Registration Department 

The plan upon which the Woman's Committee of the State Council of 
Defense decided, on May 15, 1917, to conduct its activities, contained a provision 
for : 

Registration of women, or census ; democratic enrollment by co-oper- 
ation between e.xisting organization, using uniform cards. 
A registration fee of only ten cents was fi.xed, that the financing of the 
organization might be entirely democratic and accomplished through the loyal 
support of women of every class ; the fee to be voluntary and not obligatory. 

In June Mrs. Harlan Ward Cooley, as registration chairman, announced her 
Registration Committee as follows : 

Miss Irene Warren, Vice-Chairman ; Mrs. Bessie A. Gordon, Sec- 
retary; Mrs. Louise E. Burr, Mrs. Richard Gray, Mrs. A. W. Harris, 
Mrs. N. W. Harris, Mrs. Frank W. Howes, Mrs. Edwin L. Lobdell, Mrs. 
James E. MacMurray, Mrs. Julia McKibben, Mrs. Alfred J. Martin, Mrs. 
E. C. Wilson, Mrs. Harry A. Wheeler, Miss Katherine Jones, Mrs. E. J. 
McCarty, Mrs. Roy Dickey. 

Preparation a Big Task — A form of registration card was prepared, which 
was afterward adopted, with but slight changes, by the Washington authorities 
for the registration of women throughout the country. A comprehensive regis- 
tration plan was adopted which embraced every detail of the task from selecting 
and training registrars to office equipment. Meanwhile, preliminary registration 
work, which served as a practical training school and "laboratory" for working 
out registration problems, was being carried on at 60 East Madison street. It 
became increasingly evident that instruction must be given to those who were 
to do the work of registration, and early in July an informal class of about 
twenty was started. This was followed shortly by another of between thirty 
and forty. Before the summer was over, three classes were being conducted 
daily. Neighborhood classes were also formed in many of the Chicago wards. 
Attendance at headquarters classes went up to over three hundred, three times' 
a day. In August, instructors toured the state, starting instruction classes at 
nearly twenty centers of population. In the meantime, a correspondence cam- 
paign from headquarters urged appointment of a registration chairman in every 
town that had a branch of the Woman's Committee, and outlining the plan for 
intensive registration throughout the state. This was set, finally, for the week of 
November 5, 1917. Governor Lowden issued a registration proclamation in 
September. Speakers were trained to speak on registration and sent over the 
state. In Chicago more than 10,000 registrars were trained for service to be 
turned over to the ward organizations. Provision was also made to register 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 123 

women for paid employment. In October an intensive speaking campaign was 
taken up in the schools of Chicago. The registration committee furnished 
speakers for twelve schools daily for the entire month, in addition to the large 
number furnished to clubs, ward branches and other organizations. Moving 
picture slides were used in conjunction with the speeches. The Chicago registra- 
tion classes grew beyond the seating capacity of the State Council assembly 
hall, and women sat on radiators and window sills and crowded every available 
inch of space at each of the three daily classes, so three night classes a week, two 
hours in length, were established. 

Representatives came to study Illinois registration metliods, from Michigan, 
Connecticut, California, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Idaho, Mon- 
tana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and South 
Dakota. To Michigan, Illinois furnished organizers, after its own registration. 

Hard Work Brings Results — Registration week, the week of November 5, 
1917, was a hectic one. Every available woman was pressed into service, and at 
the end of the week's work the department was able to report as follows : 

Chicago registration of women 146,274 

Illinois registration, outside of Chicago 127,402 

Total registration for week 274,278 

This initial week of registration provided a vast number of volunteers and 
laid the foundation of much of the work later achieved by the Woman's Com- 
mittee. 

With registration week ended, there was no cessation in the activity of the 
Registration Committee, for countless towns down state, not yet registered, musf 
be stirred to action and registration campaigns inaugurated. In April, 1918, Mrs. 
Cooley set aside the period beginning April 18 for intensive state registration to 
complete the war registration, and at her request the Governor issued another 
proclamation. During the period from May, 1917, until the termination of the 
Registration Department, it received devoted, untiring and unremitting service 
from thousands of women. On April 30, 1918, Mrs. Harlan Ward Cooley 
resigned as Chairman of Registration. Mrs. Robert deGolyer succeeded her, 
but on June 25th she in turn resigned to take up industrial welfare work, and 
Mrs. Miles Hilly, Vice-Chairman of the Committee, was made Chairman of 
Volunteer Filing and Placement, Mrs. Roy Dickey was appointed Chairman of 
Registration, and acted in that capacity until the signing of the armistice brought 
an end to the war registration of women. 

Workers Furnished to Others — The work of the Volunteer Filing and 
Placement Department appears in a report filed by that department, and that 
of the Paid Employment Committee in the report of the Department of Women 
and Children in Industry, but while they were both a part of the Registration 
Committee workers were furnished for the Food Administration, Fuel Admin- 
istration, Red Cross Nursing Service, Red Cross Civilian Relief, War Camp 
Community Service, War Recreation Board, Federal Employment Bureau, Mili- 
tary Camp Association, Belgian Baby Drive, United States Engineers, War Indus- 
tries Board, Exemption Boards, American Protective League, Woman's Land 
Army of America, United States Signal Corps, The Children of the Frontier, 
Marine Recruiting Stations, War Savings Stamps Committee, U. S. Boys' Work- 
ing Reserve, for club canteens, for settlements and hundreds of other organized 
groups, as well as to fill industrial needs. 

Statistics of Registration — In statistical form, the record of the registration 



124 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

of the women of Illinois for war service, from the creation of the Woman's 
Committee to January 1, 1919, was : 

Illinois registration of women, outside of Chicago 547,917 

Chicago registration of women 150,667 

Total registration for war service 698,584 

registration, for the unit work as well as the State work, is probably conservative, 
Treasurer of the Woman's Committee, representing less than half 
of the fees and contributions so collected, the remaining half or 

more being retained by local or county units $21,599.85 

Registration fees collected in Chicago 14,729.84 

Total registration fees turned in to the State Treasurer of the 

Woman's Committee $36,329.69 

NOTE. — An estimate of $60,000.00 as the amount of money realized through 
registration, for the unit work as well as the State work, is probably conservative, 
since contributions of donations were received by the local units as well as their 
share of the fees. 

Figures Do Not Tell All — But figures alone cannot faithfully represent the 
work accomplished by the Registration Committee. First of all, it acted as a 
potent educational force. Before women would register, they must know the 
reasons for registration. To explain the reasons for registration meant explain- 
ing the causes of the war; the conditions existing in the countries of our allies; 
the problems of industry; the terrible devastation of whole populations abroad; 
the pitfalls for the young which follow in the trail of excitement and a dis- 
turbance of normal conditions ; the inadequate food supply which must be made 
to feed the world. Every registration class was a class in patriotism as well 
as a class in indexing information. 

Registration brought women of all classes into contact with each other. 
One of the big things which came out of it was the tremendous broadening 
of every woman's horizon. Through registration women were so listed and 
classified in one central place in 2,136 Illinois towns, that to every government 
drive could be furnished workers in large numbers : clerical helpers for the 
selective draft; speakers for every educational campaign; trained workers for 
home charities and community needs ; bookkeepers, stenographers, physicians, 
nurses, speakers, photographers, farm helpers, filing clerks, statisticians, seam- 
stresses, artists, writers, teachers, interpreters, translators, food demonstrators, 
proof-readers, motor drivers, switchboard operators, munition workers, elevator 
women, farm helpers, saleswomen, acocuntants, entertainers, telegraphers, knit- 
ters, settlement workers, playground directors, etc. 

Of the 698,584 women registered in Illinois, many being wage-earners, 
were unable to render service except in odd moments. But of the remainder, 
326,333 were active workers through the Woman's Committee for the period of 
the war, and these figures do not take into account the numberless woinen who, 
from the stimulus received at the time of registration, allied themselves with 
canteen work, applied for overseas service, or attached themselves as individuals 
to philanthropic or patriotic working groups in their own communities, without 
waiting to be assigned to service through the Woman's Committee. 

Volunteer Placement and Filing Department 

The registration drive in November, 1917, was scarcely over before the 
women who had registered were being called upon for service. By the last of 
February, the growth of this particular work necessitated a new department to 
care for the files and the placing of volunteers. Mrs. Robert deGolyer was made 
chairman. The last of June, Mrs. deGolyer resigned, and Mrs. Miles B. Hilly 
was appointed chairman. 

The names of 22,412 women wanting training in various things, and of 
1,640 who oflfered instruction, were turned over to the Courses of Instruction 
Committee and the ward organizations. Four hundred and sixty-four nurses 
were asked to enroll for United States Government service. 

Great Volunteer Army — Statisticians for the Ordnance Department of the 
United States Army and file and index clerks for the Signal Corps were recruited. 
A supplementary registration for summer work for all woman teachers and girl 
high school students was taken in May, 1918. During the influenza epidemic, 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 125 

12,000 letters went to women who had ofifered their services in nursing, dietetics, 
relief visiting, care of children, cleaning, cooking, or any charity work. In 
April, 1918, 33 workers were sent daily to fifteen delinquent draft boards. Num- 
bers of other draft boards were furnished registrars, helpers in filling out 
questionnaires, copyists for occupational cards, typists, stenographers, file and 
index clerks and interpreters. In July, 24 women were assigned to help marine 
recruiting. Stenographers were furnished to the State Council's Military Affairs 
Committee, to the Fatherless Children of France organization and elsewhere. 

The Agencies That Were Helped — The agencies to which help of various 
kinds was sent were as follows : 

State Council of Defense Departments — 

Executive Office Military Affairs Committee 

Publicity Department Counties Auxiliary 

Neighborhood Committee Food Production Committee 

Farm Labor Bureau U. S. Boys' Working Reserve 

War Garden Bureau Highway Transport Committee 

War Exposition Four Minute Men 

Non-war Construction Bureau Speakers' Bureau 

Commercial Economy Administra- War Recreation 

tion License Bureau 

Womnn's Committee .Departments— 

Executive Office Child Welfare 

Americanization Social Hygiene 

Woman's Land Army Registration Department 

War Information Woman's Workroom 

Publicity Department Thrift and Conservation 

Finance Committee Allied Relief 

Course of Instruction Recreation for Girls 

Paid Employment Department Social Service 

Speakers' Bureau 

U. S. Government Bodies — • 

Food Administration War Industries Board 

Fuel Administration U. S. Dept. of Labor 

War Savings Stamps American Red Cross 

American Protective League Draft Exemption Boards 

Marine Recruiting Stations Tank Service Recruiting Station 

War Resources Committee Military Camp Association 
U. S. Engineers 

Miscellaneous Organizations — 

Fatherless Children of France 

American Fund for French Wounded 

Food for France Shop 

Italian Relief Auxiliary 

Children of the Frontier 

Woman's City Club 

Chicago Woman's Club 

Chicago Political Equality League 

Girls' Protective League 

Social Service Department of the Humboldt Park Woman's Club 

Juvenile Court 

Associated Charities 

Association Settlement House 

Eleanor Clubs 

Investigating the work of doctors and nurses in the public schools 

United Charities — Central, Englewood and Lower North districts 

Visiting Nurse's Association 

Hull House 

Chicago Commons 



126 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Sheridan Field House 
Legal Aid Society 
Permanent Fund for the Blind 
Northwestern University Settlement 
Visitation of the Adult Blind 
Illinois Children's Home and Aid 
Eli Bates House 
Red League 
Church Federation 
Woman's Aid 

State Fair, Springfield (poster work) 
Juvenile Protective Association 
Immigrants' Protective League 
Providence Day Nursery 
Food Exhibit (poster work) 
Bohemian Settlement House 

South Shore Country Club (Red Cross Workers) 
Seventh Ward (Liberty Loan solicitors) 

Twentv-fourth, 30th and 31st wards (United War Work Cam- 
paign) 

Chicago Polyclinic 

Third Ward (Registrars) 

Woman's Union of the Ethical Society (Garden Work) 

Juvenile Psychopathic Institute _ 

Ridge Woman's Club (Red Cross workers) 

Orthogenic Free Clinic 

Daughters of the British Empire (Red Cross workers) 

Hebrew Institute 

Gads Hill Settlement 

Henry Booth House 

Y. W. C. A. (Red Cross) 

Social Service Department Rogers Park Catholic Woman's Club 

Help for the "Drives" — Solicitors, stenographers and general clerical workers 
for the following drives were furnished : 

Liberty Loan Salvation Army 

War Savings Stamps Y. M. C. A. 

Red Cross United War Work Campaign 

Taggers were provided for the following organizations : 

American Fund for French Wounded 

Belgian Babies 

Fatherless Children of France 

American Fund for the Blind Soldiers and Sailors 

Lying-in and Passavant Hospitals 

Home for Crippled Children and Convalescent Home for Crippled 
Children 

Daughters of the British Empire 
Motor service was furnished to the following: 
Chicago Woman's Club Navy League 

Visiting Nurses' Association Drama League 

Associated Charities Collegiate Periodical League 

U. S. Government Inspectors Hull House 

Red Cross (Emergency Drivers' League) 

Eloquent Facts and Figures — Volunteers sent to the organizations named 
in the foregoing were : Statisticians, draftsmen, librarians, commercial artists 
for making posters and bulletins, decorators to prepare booths and floats, public 
speakers, photographers, teachers for vocational schools, kindergarten teachers, 
playground workers, nurses, domestic science teachers, dieticians, food demon- 
strators, gardening instructors ; Greek, Russian, Bohemian, Polish, Lithuanian, 
Italian, Slavic and Yiddish interpreters ; entertainers, interviewers, investigators; 
proofreaders, notaries public, switchboard operators, women to do telephoning, 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 127 

information clerks, stenographers, typists, bookkeepers, file and index clerks, long 
hand copyists, general clerical workers, folders, fillers, ticket sellers, canvassers, 
helpers and solicitors for drives ; taggers, makers of regalia, potato chip packers, 
girls to make liberty candy, comfort kit packers, knitters and seamstresses, care- 
takers of children, relief visitors, etc. 

No volunteers were furnished for commercial, political or sectarian work. 
The department handled approximately 1,800 outgoing telephone calls a 
month in calling upon volunteers for service. From Chicago cards alone, it 
made assignments as follows : 

Lists of volunteers furnished 7,305 

Volunteers called by letters and cards 12,464 

Given for use of Ward and Courses of Instruction Committees- 
Lists of those wanting training 22,412 

Lists of those giving instructions 1,640 

Volunteers placed definitely 5,387 

Total 49,208 

Throughout the state the use of the registration cards was as great pro- 
portionately as in Chicago. 

Illinois Motor Corps 

This auxiliary was organized in March, 1918, for the purpose of giving vol- 
unteer motor service to the departments and committees of the State Council and 
other war organizations of Chicago and vicinity. It had twenty-nine members, 
under Mrs. Mark Walton, captain. It responded to 1,530 calls, serving the fol- 
lowing organizations : 

State Council of Defense _ Officers' Training Camp at Fort Sheridan 

War Recreation Board Soldiers' and Sailors' Club 

Food Administration Army Intelligence Department 

Fuel Administration War Savings Stamp Committee 

Infant Welfare Society Liberty Loan 

Ordnance Department Central Free Dispensary 

Navy Recruiting Office 

Courses of Instruction Department 

The object of this Committee was originally to help women find the training 
necessary to prepare them to fill positions made vacant by the men leaving for 
military duty and all other positions of special war-time service. The work was 
not so much to initiate classes as to collect data regarding courses already 
begun, to give publicity to these, and be ready to furnish complete information 
regarding them. During the course of the work, and especially after the signing 
of the armistice, the purpose broadened to include the enlarging of educational 
opportunities for all women at work, or who were planning to go to work, and 
the encouraging of women to take advantage of these opportunities. 

The committee in charge of this work was : 

Mrs. W. S. Hefferan, Chairman; Mrs. Henry Kuh, Vice-Chairman ; 
Miss Agnes Hannah, Miss Irene Warren, Mrs. A. B. Spach, Aliss 
Elizabeth Hodge, Mrs. W. S. Monroe, Mrs. W. F. Dummer, Miss 
Julia Elliott, Miss Amelia Sears, Mrs. Harry Gillet, Miss C. N. Smith, 
Miss Minnie Ahrens, Miss Mary Wheeler, Miss Louise Montgomery, 
Mrs. Henry Smoot ; Executive Secretary, Miss Gail Wilson (May, 1917, 
to August, 1918) and Mrs. W. Dow Harvey. 

Prelimijiary Work — In May, 1917, the Committee began its work by listing 
the following: 

Red Cross Courses in Surgical Dressings, Dietetics, First Aid, 
Home Nursing, etc. 

Clerical courses given in business colleges and Y. M. C. A. 

Courses in filing and card cataloging given at the Public Library. 

Courses in cooking at the School of Domestic Science in invalid and 



128 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

convalescent cooking, economical cooking, emergency and canteen 
cooking. 

Motor and wireless instruction by the Navy League. 

Social Service Emergency Relief work by the Chicago School of 
Civics and Philanthropy. 

Courses to instruct volunteers to teach citizenship and English to 
foreign mothers in groups organized in public schools. 

To obtain a survey of existing employment needs, the members of the Illi- 
nois Manufacturers' Association were circularized in May, 1917. Approximately 
10 per cent of the firms replied, and their letters showed that women would be 
needed as printers, power machine operators, elevator operators, and in other 
unusual lines. 

Co-operation of Chicago Board of Education — In May, Mr. Wm. Bachrach, 
Superintendent of Commercial Courses, offered the facilities of the three review 
high schools — Englewood, Lane and Crane — to all women desirous of taking 
courses in stenography, typewriting and rapid machine work, such as dictaphone, 
comptometer and shortwriter. During the summer months, classes in cooking, can- 
ning and general food conservation were held in the following schools : Lucy 
Flower, Gladstone, Franklin, Lake View, Hyde Park, Chicago Teachers' College. 
Foreign motliers were also given instruction in economic cooking and in English, 
at the Armour, Wells, Franklin, Jenner and Mitchell schools. The women 
usually had to bring their younger children with them, and it became necessary 
to open the kindergarten rooms with a volunteer supervisor in charge and a 
visiting nurse. With the co-operation of Mr. W. J. Roberts, Assistant Superin- 
tendent of Schools, one-third of the Chicago schools were eventually in use for 
summer work. Printing courses were offered in two evening schools in the fall. 
In January, 1918, night school courses in practical gardening and elementary 
poultry and stock raising were established. By the committee's efforts, the 
morning session of the continuation school in the McClurg Building was opened 
to girls and women, in February, 1918. Afternoon and evening sessions were 
opened later. Further work with the Board of Education was carried on by the 
Courses of Instruction Ward Units. 

Publicity and Information — As the committee gathered further information 
about the courses in Chicago, the length of the list justified the printing of a 
bulletin containing a descriptive list of 50 courses, as follows : 

Home Economics 6 Motor Mechanics 3 

Home Nursing 8 Office Work 8 

Language 6 Social Service 8 

Telephone 1 Re-education for Handicapped 8 

Miscellaneous 4 Telegraphy and Wireless 4 

A second edition of the bulletin in April, 1918, listed 41 new courses. The 
publicity brought inquiries, averaging 10 a day, including a surprising number of 
women who had never held positions of any kind. A third edition of the bul- 
letin in October, 1918, listed 90 courses, exclusive of those offered by the Board 
of Education. Thirty-nine of the new courses were as follows: 

Canteen 1 Drafting 6 

Chemistry 3 Photography 2 

Commercial 9 Railroad 2 

Employment Manager 1 Reconstruction 4 

First Aid and Nursing 4 Social Service 1 

Home Economics 1 General Information and Educational. ...4 

French 1 

No other state had issued anything as complete. Six thousand copies were 
printed, to last a year ; 4,500 copies were sent out in three months. Ten days 
after the signing of the armistice, the number of inquiries began to decrease. 
A few new courses were started in January, but the main work of the office was 
turned toward pushing free evening schools, and day part-time continuation 
schools through the State. 

Courses Initiated and Assisted — Mrs. W. S. Monroe was appointed Chair- 
man of a Sub-ComiTiittee for Training Disabled Soldiers, and in August, 1917, 
made a study of the methods used in this work in Canada. In December, the 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 129 

Henry Favill School of Occupations started a course to train reconstruction 
aides for the government. The Chicago Kindergarten Institute opened an 
afternoon-evening class, for the same work. A course for girls in mechanical 
drafting was arranged and started in February, 1918. Two groups — one to study 
telegraphy and the other wireless — were enrolled in the fall of 1917. Two 
courses for training teachers to instruct foreign-born women in English were 
started in January, 1918. Classes in filing and indexing were started in the fall 
of 1917, in response to the government call for expert filers, and were repeated 
almost every month since. In addition to directly initiating and giving aid to 
classes, the committee succeeded, through publicity, in increasing the attendance 
at many courses. 

State Work — To make a survey of the educational opportunities and needs 
of the State, in October, 1917, a comprehensive questionnaire was sent to all 
local unit chairmen. The information obtained from this survey showed that 
telegraphy was offered in 8 towns; motor mechanics in 7; printing in 8; instruc- 
tion to the blind and deaf in 4; instruction to other handicapped in 15; and domes- 
tic science in 34. From time to time, reports came in showing growing interest, 
and progress. One city where in the beginning the chairman was doubtful 
whether anything could be done, reported in September, 1918, a class in prac- 
tical bandaging with an enrollment of 20; a class in stenography, which graduated 
many women who took positions; a class in telegraphy; a class in first aid; and 
plans for starting classes in filing and in motor mechanics. Many units worked 
in co-operation with their school boards. Where school boards were unable to 
start the desired courses, units arranged classes outside of the schools. Tele- 
graphy was among the most popular of the courses instituted by the local units. 
Though many towns neglected to report, we have the record of 115 classes in 46 
towns, and in addition the opening of evening instruction in commercial lines in 
8 towns. After the signing of the armistice, instructions were sent to the State 
units to work more than ever for the establishing of evening classes and part- 
time day continuation classes. Reports from 26 units in December, 1918, and 
January, 1919, showed that the chairmen realized the permanent value of their 
work, and that they were not slackening their efforts because of the signing of 
the armistice. 

Ward Work and Suvunary^'By August, 1918, the work of the committee in 
Chicago had grown so large that the chairman began to make an effort to secure 
Courses of Instruction Units in the various wards, asking teachers to act as leaders 
in most cases. It was not easy to find many teachers who could accept this appoint- 
ment, because of the already great demands on their time. However, by Janu- 
ary, 1919, there were leaders in 17 of the 35 wards, and many gave untiring service 
in spite of their other duties. The real outcome of the work of the Courses of 
Instruction Committee has been that each community reached has come to a 
realization of the educational opportunities in its midst. There have been sur- 
veys, a general taking stock of equipment. On the one hand, unknown oppor- 
tunities have been brought to light, and advertised ; unappreciated opportunities 
have been used more than ever before. On the other hand, where a community 
fell short, there has been an effort to initiate further instruction through private 
classes, evening schools, community centers, and part-time continuation classes. 

Employment Department 

The general registration of women was the immediate cause of the existence 
of the Employment Department. Many of the women who registered that they 
would be available for "paid" positions took for granted that openings would be 
awaiting them immediately. Some who registered were very much in need of 
work. Most of them were "over 40" and untrained. It very soon became evi- 
dent that some kind of organized and systematic effort must be made to Bring 
these women into contact with the opportunities they were seeking and to induce 
employers to make use of these women in their organizations, when skill and' 
experience were not essential pre-requisites. On January 21st, 1918, Miss Helen 
M. Bennett of the Chicago Collegiate Bureau of Occupations, assisted Miss 
Elizabeth D. Douglass and Miss Florence Schee in the establishment and organ- 



130 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

ization of the Employment Committee work on an efficient and practical working 
basis. The functions of the department were threefold: 

(1) To interview, analyze and register the qualifications of women 
seeking work. 

(2) To get in touch with employers ; learn their needs, and the 
particular and peculiar qualities desired of the women needed. 

(3) Then, with as great care as possible, to select the right woman 
for the right job and place her in touch therewith. 

One of the chief problems undertaken by this department was that of the 
woman "over 40." Registrations taken from January 5, 1918, to January 1, 1919, 
were as follows : 

20 years of age or under 1,571 

21 years of age to 30 years 3,130 

31 years of age to 39 years 1,474 

40 years of age to 49 years 1,427 

50 years of age to 59 years 386 

60 years of age and over 80 

Age not noted 790 

8,858 

The larger number of the "age not noted" applicants were women above the 
"40" line, making it safe to say that between 2,500 and 3,000 of these registrants 
were middle aged and elderly women who for various reasons found it desirable 
or necessary to make their own living. The records of the department show 
that positions were found for about 600 of this group. Lines of training open 
to them were pointed out to about 900 others ; and many more decided it was 
unnecessary to find employment. 

IVoman's Committee Work Room — Under the direction of Mrs. E J. Mc- 
Carty a Woman's Committee workroom was organized to furnish employment 
for many women who could not qualify for standardized positions, commercial, 
industrial, and domestic, as follows : 

1. The middle aged and old with no business experience. 

2. The physically weak and mentally weak. 

3. The women whose former occupations were temporarily para- 
lyzed by the war, and whose occupations, (as dressmaking) had not 
schooled them for commercial lines. 

The working principle was to keep to one form of occupation, needlework 
and handcraft ; to give work at the workroom ; to supply home work to the 
women who found it impossible through domestic duties or delicate health, to 
do work outside ; to send women out 'by the day to work in other people's homes ; 
to find women permanent positions after we had investigated their ability at the 
workroom ; to give instruction, when necessary, in handcraft and in every case to 
encourage a woman to improve and learn business methods. The first work done 
was very simple sewing, mending and darning. Soon found were women who 
could do the most exquisite handwork, but who had never known how to make 
it remunerative. Often it was discovered that a woman who could not earn her 
living by needlework had a natural aptitude for painting, crocheting rugs, dyeing, 
etc. Eventually, the workroom was employing women on the following : 

Mending and darning ; alterations on old clothes and new ; dress- 
making (handled almost entirely in employment office style) ; training 
dressmakers' assistants; hemming by machine; hemming by hand; hem- 
stitching by machine and hand ; embroidering and initialing ; embroid- 
ering (waists, dresses, etc.); fine darning (Persian and camel's hair 
shawls, laces and embroideries) ; making collar and cuff and vest sets ; 
making aprons ; making underclothes ; relining muffs and neck-pieces ; 
relining men's ties; knitting; crocheting; all forms of fancy work; 
netting (bags for golf balls) ; hand-painting (cards, buttons, boxes, 
tinware, oilcloth, etc.) ; making rag dolls; making children's and infants' 
clothes; making masks (for munition workers); decorating hat bands 
(millinery orders); making curtains; covering comforts; making en- 
velopes ; hand decorating stationery ; making paper bags into decorated 
utility bags ; covering boxes with fancy paper ; making wool dolls ; mak- 
ing hotne-rnade candy; making fancy boxes for candy; making Christ- 
mas novelties. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 131 

Results of Work Room — One hundred and fifty women were given part- 
time work. (Very few of tlie women registered were able to work eight hours 
a day.) Many women needed the work outside of their homes as an antidote 
against bereavement more than for the money. Many wives and mothers of 
soldiers found emergency work there while waiting for their allotments. Many 
women were kept from drifting into the dependent class. The conclusions are 
that this work is practical and would supply a business need ; that it should be 
carried on in every community when unemployment exists ; that it is of enough 
civic value to find a permanent place in the work that is fostered by the promi- 
nent women's clubs under the head of Vocational Guidance ; that in order to 
maintain the philanthropic idea it was built upon, it should have an endowment 
fund which would enable it to help the women through the period of time that 
is necessary to give them instruction and to find the work that will afterwards 
provide them a vocation. 

Co-Opcrating -with U. S. Employment Service — On July 15, 1918, the depart- 
ment joined forces with the U. S. Employment Service, co-operating with the 
Illinois Free Employment Agencies. The department co-operated closely with 
employers in Chicago and with plants in and near Chicago, manufacturing muni- 
tions and other war supplies ; it has also furnished many employes to the Ordnance 
and Quartermaster's Departments of the Army, as well as to the government 
departments in Washington, D. C. The department made a close survey and 
study of conditions that aflfect the work of women to assist employers in the 
adjustment of these conditions. It has also encouraged women in the direction 
of training, believing that within this process lies the key, not only to the problems 
of industry in which women are participating, but also that the future of the 
political, the economic and the industrial life of our country will depend for 
successful development and growth largely upon the trained intelligence of the 
woman citizenry. 

Illinois Training Farm for Women 

It was in March, 1918, that the war-time movement of women towards the 
land reached Illinois. In England, about 300,000 women were tilling the soil and 
women of the Eastern states were organizing for land service. 

The Mid-West Branch of the Woman's National Farm and Garden Associa- 
tion became interested and, with various other organizations and individuals, 
wished to formulate plans for a Woman's Land Army of Illinois. The work 
was taken up, by authority of the Women's Committee, by the following com- 
mittee : 

Mrs. Tiffany Blake, Chairman; Mrs. W. V. B. Ames, Vice-Chair- 
man ; Mrs. Vibe K. Spicer, Vice-Chairman ; Mrs. C. W. Deusner, Rec- 
ording Secretary; Mrs. A. S. Peabody, Treasurer; Mrs. G. S. B. Steward, 
Mrs. E. J. Phelps, Mrs. Albert Heler, Mrs. B. J. Cahn, Mrs. B. W. 
Rosenstone, Dean Mary Ross Potter, Mrs. Medill McCormick, Mrs. 
Walter S. Brewster, Mrs. Charles W. Hubbard, Mrs. Henry Dunlap, Mrs. 
Samuel T. Chase, Miss Marjorie Bell. 

It seemed to the committee that there was no labor shortage that could not 
be taken care of by the Boys' Reserve, and the men of the towns ; but, if the war 
should continue, then women would be needed to assist in planting and harvest- 
ing crops. However, in talking with agriculturalists and friends, it appeared 
that if women were to be used, they should be trained first. The immediate need, 
as presented, was to help the farmer's wife. To meet this situation, the Illinois 
Training Farm for Women idea was developed. 

Getting the Farm Going — W. V. B. Ames loaned his farm of 200 acres at 
Libertyv'ille, rent free, for three years, including the ten-room house, a barn, an 
unfinished cement cow barn, outbuildings and also 18 cows and 187 chickens, as 
well as some farm and house equipment. The farm was of the dairy type, some- 
what run down. During April and May, cash donations amounted to $4,100, 
which was spent for an automobile truck, lumber and various smaller items. A 
tractor was loaned, and a man to help the girls master it. Presents, such as plows 
and disc-harrows, a farm wagon, cultivators, and other farm outfit, made excit- 
ing arrivals, with milking machine, separator, stanchions, barn equipment, paint. 



132 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

sand and seeds, all keeping company with domestic consignments of tents and 
blankets, jelly jars, a stove, hams and tea. Seventy-six hundred dollars in cash 
and $6,000 in equipment were given by an interested public to establish this experi- 
mental school for women. 

Recruiting the "Army" — By July 1st, the personnel at the farm numbered 
forty-six. The training and maintenance of the girls was free, they agreeing 
to do what was asked and to remain in farm work for the duration of the war. 
They were accepted on two weeks' probation. A few were not in earnest; a few 
disliked the work; several wept on dismissal. The first seven months seventy- 
five girls were accepted and eleven girls turned away. Thirteen hundred appli- 
cations were received, from which seventy-six were accepted provisionally. Fifty- 
five received training during periods varying from one to seven months. Sev- 
enty-five per cent of the students were college women; 15 per cent professional 
women and 10 per cent women of leisure or homemakers. Their ages ranged 
from eighteen to fifty-three years. Although conditions on the farm were far 
from ideal, and were exceptionally difficult in some respects, all responded 
spiritedly to their opportunities, worked very hard without complaint, prospered 
physically and learned to take care of themselves. 

How They Got Training — The buildings needed attention inside and out. 
The cow shed had continued to accumulate fertilizer year after year. It was 
cleared in two days by five girls. The feat set a standard, though there was no 
other episode quite so trying. Several barrels of glass and rubbish were cleaned 
from the front yard and shrubs were planted. The well was cleaned and a tank in- 
stalled in the attic to supply the house with running water. Two people only had 
lived in the house. With war-time conditions, for four weeks no plumber was 
to be had and the cistern pump in the kitchen provided the only water for dish- 
washing for forty-six people. When the plumber finally appeared, the girls 
acted as assistants and after the pipes were laid to the house and connected, they 
filled the ditches. Seven tents in the white oak grove extended the sleeping quar- 
ters and the big cement horse stable made an attractive dormitory. Friday nights, 
half the girls went home. There was no field work Sundays and always time then 
for a swim in some neighboring lake. Considerable experience was gained by 
the girls in handling tools. Colony houses for the chickens were put up. An 
additional room to the house was built. A new barn was finished and equipped, 
part as dairy and part as creamery. Hot water heat and a steam plant for live 
stock were put in the creamery, which was also furnished with one power churn, 
one hand churn, separator, cheese vats and various cheese-making equipment. 

Operation of the Farm — The farm was run in three departments, the girls 
choosing their department for a month in rotation : Farm Operation and Care 
of Live Stock; Dairy and Creamery; Chickens and Home Economics. Five days 
a week there was a lecture of some department at 1 :30 after a rest hour. The 
subjects were as follows : 

General Agriculture and Farm Woman's Land Movement in 

Work. England. 

Dairy Work. Domestic Science. 

General Poultry; Licubation. Soil Experiments — How to 

Fruits. Maintain Soil Fertility. 

Drainage. Fertilizers, Manures and Lime. 

Women as Truckers. Truck Gardening. 

Landscape. Agricultural Botany. 

The girls were marked on their note books. The general excellence of their 
field work was considered. Some theory was given too, with the field work, in 
informal talks as the work progressed. 

Some Things Girls Did — During the summer at the farm the girls throve 
well on their field work. They plowed with the tractor, horse plow and hand 
plow and besides planting some small grains and a large kitchen garden, they 
planted ten acres of oats, twenty-two of corn and five of potatoes. These they 
cultivated, as well as thirty acres of other grains already planted when they took 
possession of the farm. And these crops they harvested as well as thirty acres 



5TATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 133 

of timothy. The girls helped to bring in the crops of the neighboring farms— 
an exchange of labor — for when our silo was filled, sixteen farmers brought 
twelve teams across the fields to help. 

One of the students and the supervisor of a neighboring farm shocked eigh- 
teen acres of oats starting at 10 o'clock in the morning and ending at 5 :30 in 
the afternoon, taking an hour out for luncheon. A brood of 300 chickens was 
hatched. Chickens, eggs, butter, cream, Yorkshire, Devonshire, Cottage, Cheddar 
and Coulmour cheeses were well marketed. The most successful by-product of the 
year was the mince meat made from green tomatoes — 138 cans brought in $103.50. 
The report shows that the amount of food canned, dried and preserved was 
enough to feed a family of thirty until next harvest. The farm's exhibits at the 
Lake County Fair took ten first prizes for canned vegetables and fruits, pickles 
and preserves, second prize for vegetables, and the first prizes for cheeses — green 
pepper, pimento, cream, cottage and club. 

Graduates and Positions — The committee makes no promises, but there is a 
growing demand for skilled agricultural labor. Calls come for farm supervisors, 
dairy-women and general farmers. This is suitable work for women and it is 
well paid. Of the graduates last year (1918) seven girls are taking courses in agri- 
cultural colleges ; one graduate has been engaged to go to Russia with the Inter- 
national Harvester Company as soon as conditions permit, to teach the peasant 
women how to use farm machinery ; three girls are engaged at dairy farming ; 
three others plan to use their training in working on their fathers' farms next 
year. Several of the teachers and college girls wish farm positions in the vaca- 
tion period. Others plan to have their own small farms. Some are hoping to 
take up claims, and one girl is helping a farmer at Grand Ridge, Illinois, doing 
general farming. It is hoped the farm in the near future will be connected with 
the State University. A one-year's course — nine months' practice at the farm, 
combined with three months' short course at the university— is suggested. As 
75 per cent of the women trained at the farm were college women, it would 
seem suitable to connect their work at the farm with such training. It is hoped 
the home supervisor provided by the Smith-Lever Bill will make the farm her 
headquarters. As she goes through the country, she can learn the needs of her 
community and can organize at the farm the needed instruction. She can take 
students of the farm with her to her various fields of activity, giving them valu- 
able experience under her direction. Thus the farm can be developed into a 
source of assistance for the farmer's wife, as well as giving aid to the farmer. 

Food Production Department 

The Food Production work was organized under Mrs. Henry M. Dunlap of 
Savoy, Chairman, and Mrs. Augustus Peabody of Chicago, Vice-Chainnan, like 
that of other committees, through the county unit. It was the aim to secure a 
working organization in every county and to extend that organization to a town- 
ship organization. A comprehensive set of suggestions was sent to every county 
chairman. Ninety-five counties have reported themselves organized. 

Promoting Food Production — Early in the organization work, a simple 
Garden Manual was published, to be placed in the hands of the teachers of the 
State, with information to be imparted to the pupils. Over 5,000 copies were dis- 
tributed. A monthly letter was sent to every county chairman from the office of 
the Food Production Chairman suggesting the work to be done during 
the month, and they were asked to have these letters published in all county 
papers so that the information could be quickly disseminated. The chairman 
of the committee made many talks throughout the State on food production, and 
many county chairmen covered their counties with an educational campaign of 
speeches and distribution of literature, so when the period of seed planting and 
cultivation was at hand, through this preliminary effort, they were ready for 
active, intelligent work. 

Results Obtained — No exact number of gardens made or amount of produc- 
tion secured has been tabulated, but many reports have been received of the 
universal garden-making of the counties, some saying an increase of 100 to 200 
per cent was made over any previous year. The chairman, in her travels over the 



134 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

State, was pleased and gratified to see the wonderful gardens under such excel- 
lent cultivation that were everywhere to be found. The parking in many towns 
was used to grow cabbages, tomatoes, potatoes and many early vegetables, and 
railroad rights of way were also used wherever possible. The waste places along 
public highways were plowed and made to bring forth food, where previously 
they produced only weeds. In fact, through the many and varied ways of inter- 
esting the people of the State in food production, especially gardening, it became 
a universal interest, and every one that could possibly find a place to cultivate was 
growing food to help beat the Kaiser. 

Recommendations for the Future — Early in February, this department held 
a conference at Urbana, at which recommendations were made as follows : That 
every farm in Illinois have a vegetable garden ; that all available space in towns 
and cities be planted ; that every woman raising poultry increase the number of 
her flock; that inore butter and cottage cheese be made; that the raising of bees 
for honey, to be used instead of sugar, and sheep for the wool they supply, be 
urged; that community kitchens be opened to take care of surplus vegetables. 
Every county that had a good leader gave good monthly reports, and the work 
accomplished was all that could be desired. 

Thrift and Conservation Department 

A group of women interested in conservation met at the request of Isabel 
Bevier, Director of Home Economics, University of Illinois, in the rooms of the 
Chicago Woman's Club Tuesday afternoon, May 22, 1917. Miss Bevier explained 
that the purpose of the meeting was to find ways and means of conserving health, 
food, fuel, clothing and higher life. She announced that in selecting the mem- 
bers of the Conservation Committee it was the purpose to utilize organizations 
already existing and the basis of the selection of the members had been two : 
first, to have representatives of the various interests and activities already in 
progress in Chicago ; and, second, to have representatives from the rest of the 
State of women of experience and leisure, and who could give considerable time 
and thought to the problems. 

From the date of the first meeting until the signing of the armistice, meet- 
ings were held the second and fourth. Tuesdays in each month, taking up the 
many problems as conditions required. Mrs. Rufus Dawes of Evanston was 
appointed City Chairman in February, 1918. She resigned in May, 1918, and 
was succeeded by Miss Elizabeth Allen. New members were added as the work 
developed. Following is a list of the members of the committees of December 
1st, 1918: 

Miss Isabel Bevier, Chairman ; Miss Elizabeth Allen, Chicago Chair- 
man ; Miss Katherine Blunt, Vice-Chairman, under Chicago Chairman ; 
Mrs. Lynden Evans, Mrs. Charles H. Betts, Miss Katherine Blunt, Mrs. 
John C. Bley, Mrs. Edward T. Gudeman, Miss Jennie Snow, Mrs. C. M. 
Lloyd, Mrs. W. L. Arnold, Mrs. Dora E. Duflf, Mrs. W. A. Myers, Miss 
Ethel Lendrum, Mrs. N. W. Harris, Mrs. James B. Herrick, Mrs. A. N. 
Farmer, Mrs. Alfred Granger, Miss Frances Swain, Mrs. Samuel Steele, 
Mrs. Annie Kenny, Mrs. Herman Frank, Mrs. Charles Monroe, Miss 
Sarah Tunnicliff, Mrs. Robert Palmer. 

Saving Wheat — With the need of conservation of wheat, it seemed wise to 
put before the public in as vivid and spectacular a way as possible, the fact that 
Illinois is essentially a corn-producing state and to show the possibilities of the 
use of corn in attractive dishes. The corn kitchens were the outgrowth of a very 
large six-days' corn show held in a vacant store in the loop district early in 
November, 1917. The attendance was so great (over 30,000) and the interest 
so keen that the State Council of Defense felt that the idea ought to be carried 
to other parts of the city. Women were interested by neighborhoods to organize 
for corn shows. In January, 1918, the scope of the kitchens was enlarged to 
include other wheat substitutes, and the name was changed to Wheat Savings 
Kitchens. Later, the corn kitchens grew into local "food shows," with exhibits 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 135 

illustrating the conservation of wheat, meat, fat and sugar. The following corn 
shows were held : 

One 5-day corn kitchen in a high school. 

Two 1-day corn kitchens in a graded school. 

One 4-day wheat saving kitchen in a grocery store. 

One 4-day food show in a local hall. 

One very comprehensive S-day food show in a furniture store in the 

stock yards district. 
One 5-day food show in a suburban library. 

Canning — On July 9, 1918, a community cannery was opened at Sinai Social 
Center. Each person was allowed to can only two jars at one time, as the plan 
was to reach as many people as possible, and not allow any one or two to reap 
the benefits justly due to many, and 500 jars cold packed left the center. In all, 
28 canning demonstrations were given, and 14 demonstrations using wheat and 
meat substitutes, remaining throughout 100 per cent wheatless. During several 
canning demonstrations fruits and vegetables were dried on home-made driers 
of screen, using the oven for artificial heat, thereby demonstrating simplicity and 
economy. Advertising was accomplished through the picture houses, newspapers, 
local weeklies and churches, women's clubs, etc. 

Sugar Conservation — In December, a bulletin putting forth the sugar situa- 
tion and the possibility of making Christmas candies without sugar was issued. 
At the Christmas festival "Toyland," held at the Coliseum the last ten days 
before Christmas, 1917, two thousand pounds of sugarless candy were made and 
sold. The number of people at the booth averaged 300 each day. 

Food Show — Soup Kitchen — The committee co-operated closely with the 
State Council of Defense Patriotic Food Show at the Coliseum January 5th to 
13, 1918. After some investigation as to neighborhood conditions in the saloon 
district of Hyde Park, Miss E. Lendrum was asked to supervise a soup kitchen 
called "The Canteen," which was opened at Hyde Park Center. The Canteen 
gave the laboring men in that vicinity at noon the opportunity to have a bowl of 
heavy soup, a thick slice of bread and a cup of coffee with cream for 10 cents. 
There was such a demand for pie that it was added to the menu. The women 
in the neighborhood were urged to go in where the soup was being made and 
ask questions, and also buy the soup and carry it home. The women were slow 
to ask questions, but always glad to take home any printed matter, such as govern- 
ment bulletins and leaflets. The men also learned to ask for recipes to take home 
to their wives. In some respects the experiment was satisfactory, inasmuch as 
many laborers and poor families were helped materially during the cold weather. 
The saloons increased their vigilance and their influence was shown perceptibly 
by the fact that the Canteen was filled on election days when the saloons were 
closed, which indicates that upon the closing of the saloons there will be a demand 
for soup and coffee kitchens. 

Child Welfare — Home demonstrations agents co-operating with the Con- 
servation Committee assisted the Child Welfare Committee and aimed to see 
that every child in the country was weighed and measured and its birth recorded 
sometime during the year beginning April 1, 1918, and ending Apri' 1, 1919. 
Baby weighing centers in the poor foreign districts were especially visited, to 
give advice as to the care and feeding of children while mothers were waiting to 
have their children weighed and measured. In each of these districts visited they 
found concrete proof that there is universal lack of knowledge as to the correct 
feeding and care of children among the foreigners. In its weighing station at 
the 6th Ward Council of Defense headquarters, a special demonstration along 
the line of infant feeding was given one afternoon. The demonstration lasted 
two hours. There were some bad cases of malnutrition among the children. 
As the 6th Ward is principally American, this demonstrated that ignorance along 
these lines is not entirely confined to the foreigners. 

Potato Campaign — During the drive in the spring to promote the use of 
potatoes to save wheat, there were demonstrations at Fellowship Settlement 
House, Baptist Home (Colored) and Harvey Training Class. The County 



136 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Superintendent of Schools and the seven country life advisers were interested, 
and through them potato campaign literature and potato leaflets were placed in 
every school, and the Potato Dialogue went to the libraries and some of the 
larger schools. The potato campaign material was also sent to each of the 
township units in Cook County. Twelve units reported active potato campaigns, 
with exhibits in grocery stores, libraries and schools, and in some cases a parade. 

Alunicipal Pier Demonstrations — With the help of volunteer domestic sci- 
ence teachers from the public schools, there was all summer a conservation booth 
on the Municipal Pier. The demonstrations, though conducted in a thoroughly 
scientific manner, were informal, and the people crowded around the tables. 
Their problems were very practical and needed to be accurately answered. 
Afternoon demonstrations were devoted to the cold pack method of canning 
vegetables, and the evening demonstrations to cold pack canning of fruit. There 
was always some war recipe for baking being demonstrated. All fruit was 
canned without sugar and all baking was wheatless. In addition to the demon- 
strations there was always a lecture from a chart on the cold pack method of 
canning; literature was given out; and government "price lists" of fruits and 
vegetables distributed. There were two types of people who applied at the booth, 
i. €., those who came to learn the use of substitutes and how to conform to gov- 
ernment regulations, and those who wanted to correct their past mistakes. Even 
the men copied the recipes left on the blackboard, and little children came to 
inquire. It is safe to say a thousand people a day stopped at this booth, with a 
total attendance of 45,000. 

Graphic Food Exhibits — Graphic food exhibits showing the substitute food 
rations, canning, drying and salting, were most successful. These were held in 
ward centers, stores, settlements and clubs. One such was placed at the State 
Fair, showing the amount of food required by one American soldier for one 
year, and made very clear to all the necessity of canning in order to provide the 
food for nearly two million soldiers. Several county fairs asked for the mate- 
rial, and felt it was of the greatest value. 

Miscellaneous Activities — An interesting demonstration was one to Boy 
Scouts with vegetables raised in their Scout garden. Growing out of demon- 
stration at the Nineteenth Century Club, a class for colored women was formed 
— seven lessons, one every Thursday. Three of the largest department stores 
conducted, under committee supervision, demonstrations on wheat substitutes for 
one week in their grocery departments. Over twenty thousand of the recipes 
used were printed and distributed. As the result of an intensive training course 
at Lewis Institute, University of Chicago and the School of Domestic Arts and 
Science, fifty women became available as helpers in demonstrations. Wherever 
possible, the committee worked through the ward organizations. In 38 settle- 
ments there were demonstrations reaching all nationalities. Red Cross meetings 
were also utilized. Talks on conservation were given in every school in the city 
during the fall of 1917, to the seventh and eighth grades and high school pupils 
and their parents. At the War Exposition, September 2nd to 14th, 1918, in 
Grant Park, cold pack canning and sugarless recipes were demonstrated. It is 
estimated 600,000 people passed the booth. 

Food Conservation Bureau and Demonstration Station 

The Food Conservation Bureau and Demonstration Station, under the direc- 
tion of Mrs. Charles A. Munroe, was opened on June 1, 1918, for the purpose of 
giving to the housewives of Chicago accurate information on food conservation. 
Practical lectures and demonstrations were given on the Model Kitchen platform 
at 11 :00 and 2:00 o'clock six days a week for six months. Some of the subjects 
covered by the demonstrations were: 

100 per cent wheatless quick breads of every description. 

Canning (cold pack method). 

Dehydrating. 

Invalid cookery. 

Children's diet. 

Balanced meals for all ages. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 137 

Meat substitutes. 

Many uses of dairy products. 

Yeast breads with a minimum amount of wheat. 

Many uses of fish. 

French and Italian cookery (conservation cookery). 

Wheatless pastry. 

Jellies, jams and marmalades without sugar. 

Seasonable salads to save the sweet. 

Vegetable cookery. 

Conservation of fuel. 

Sugarless food of every description. 

Uses of rough cuts and extra meat portions. 

The uses of the fireless cooker and how to construct one at home. 

Meat extenders. 

Meatless and sugarless mince meat. 

Meals from left overs. 

Planning adequate food for conservation times. 

Marketing and the food regulations. 

Suggestive Thanksgiving dishes. 

Sugarless confections. 

Egg savers. 

Preservation of eggs in water glass. 

Demonstrations and Lectures — The experimental kitchen was a very valu- 
able department. All of the products of this kitchen were made practically with- 
out sugar for three months, and almost no white flour was used in any of the 
yeast breads. New sugarless and wheatless recipes were worked out almost 
every day. The bake shop, where the conservation products were sold, origin- 
ally opened as an experiment with no idea of commercial profit, proved most 
profitable. It more than paid the salaries of domestic science experts the last 
two months, and produced $3,363.67 for financing the Bureau. At the informa- 
tion desk, thousands of government recipes dealing with every conceivable phase 
of conservation, and all of the recipes demonstrated in the model kitchen, were 
given away. The week of July 8th was devoted to a food conservation 'drive, 
a feature of which was outdoor demonstrating with model kitchens mounted on 
motor trucks. Following the parade on opening day, three of the trucks were 
sent into the poorer districts of the city. Interpreters accompanied the trucks 
and explained the demonstrations in the language of the people of the districts. 
The truck demonstrations were continued through the summer whenever called 
for. Demonstrations were also given in many wards of the city, and Bureau 
demonstrators also lectured in LaGrange, Morton Grove, Belle Plaine Harding 
Austin, Aurora, Beverly Hills, Edison Park, Congress Park, Riverside' and Bud- 
long Gardens. 

Special Undertakings—The week of August 12th was devoted to the care 
and feeding of children. The Bureau was represented at the State Fair by a 
large exhibit which Mrs. Charles A. Munroe personally superintended, and at 
the War Exposition by a large demonstrating kitchen, where were illustrated 
many times daily cold-pack canning, sugarless cookies and desserts, wheat substi- 
tutes, etc. Between 15 and 20 demonstrators worked there almost without inter- 
ruption throughout the day and evening. During the month of October, the 
Bureau offered its services to the Red Cross as an emergency soup kitchen to 
aid the sufferers from influenza. During the two weeks about 35 families a day 
were cared for. More than 60,000 people visited the Bureau in six months. 
I he largest attendance at demonstrations was during the canning season. 

Closed ill December— It was determined to close the Bureau on December 
Ist the special mission for which it was established, that of teaching the house- 
wife conservation along specific lines, having been fulfilled; also, the new pro- 
gram of the U. S. Food Administration, one of general conservation by reduc- 
ing the amount of food consumed per capita, being a difficult one to demonstrate 
in food lectures, it was not deemed wise to continue a large establishment with 
expensive equipment. After the payment of all bills, a sum amounting to approx- 
imately $800 remained in the treasury, which has been applied to free lectures 



138 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

on "Marketing," "The Family Budget," and "Saving Fats," etc., at the School 
of Domestic Arts and Science, and to paying for the services of domestic science 
experts to work with the Woman's Committee Thrift and Conservation Depart- 
ment. 

Fuel Conservation 

Miss Sarah B. Tunnicliff entered upon her duties as the Director of the 
Women's Section of the Conservation Department of the U. S. Fuel Adminis- 
tration for Illinois (Prof. H. H. Stock, Director) with authority from the 
chairman of the Woman's Committee, State Council of Defense, to take charge 
of fuel conservation among the women of the State. The section co-operated 
with the Fuel Administrators and Conservators in their efforts to enforce the 
government's requests pertaining to temperature of buildings, lighting, "Tag- 
Your-Shovel Day" and conservation of fuel through the adoption of economical 
methods of firing and utilization in domestic heating equipment. In Chicago 
women acted as explainers at the Fuel Conservation booth held in connection 
with the Patriotic Food Show, January 5-13, 1918. Fifty per cent of the in- 
quiries came from women. The demonstration proved a good preparation for 
the period of coal shortage which soon followed. 

Helping the Fuel Administration — The period of coal famine reached an 
acute stage January 16 and continued until February 5. The appeals for coal 
made to the County Fuel Administration increased to such an extent that it 
became necessary to adopt a plan of decentralization, so that urgent cases could 
be investigated and receive immediate relief. The Women's Section of the De- 
partment of Fuel Conservation was requested to undertake this work under the 
direction of the Emergency Division. Within forty-eight hours a fuel dis- 
tributor was appointed for every ward in the city, their names put in the daily 
press, and appeals for help were receiving prompt attention. A committee of 
coal dealers was organized to co-operate with the ward chairmen in filling orders. 
The situation required an immediate survey of the wards, a listing of dealers, the 
amount and grade of coal on hand, facilities for distribution and the best way 
of utilizing those facilities. Applications for relief were card-catalogued, cases 
investigated and an organization developed in a systematic way. 

Results Accomplished — People were found in every state of helplessness — 
sick babies, mothers in confinement, families quarantined, aged and insane — every 
form of distress was reported to the chairmen. For two weeks the distributors 
were besieged by telephone calls and by applicants in person, who crowded their 
houses and looked to them as their one source of relief. The women soon be- 
came known throughout their communities, and cases were reported to them by 
doctors, nurses, postmen, police and even the coal dealers themselves. Alto- 
gether 16,339 orders for coal were received by the committee and filed, excepting 
those orders where only hard coal was acceptable. 

After the emergency had passed, attention was especially given to the educa- 
tional part of the program. The women's clubs of Illinois were circularized and 
arrangements made for a place on their club calendars for speakers on fuel con- 
servation. October 1, 1918, when the Conservation Department was reorganized 
under Mr. Harold Almert, Director of Conservation, the Women's Section con- 
tinued its work as a part of the Education Section, Domestic Heating. 

Child Welfare Department 

Physical examinations under the selective draft law startled the country by 
disclosing that at least 34 per cent of the young men examined were unfit for 
service in the cause of their country because of physical disabilities. This fact 
gained significance, moreover, with the knowledge that the greater number of 
these disabilities would not have existed if the young men in infancy and early 
childhood had had proper care. These startling facts, together with the knowl- 
edge that at least 300,000 of the infants of the country die every year from 
preventable causes, led people, eager to exert every efifort in the conservation of 
human resources, to organize a nation-wide movement for the upbuilding of the 
health and protection of children. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 139 

The Woman's Committee of the State Council of Defense of Illinois was one 
of the first to organize a Child Welfare Department and in fact, the Illinois pro- 
gram was published before the national plan was sent out. It was later found 
that the plans were practically the same, with the exception that the Illinois 
program did not include the weighing and measuring of the children. The 
department was organized in January, 1918. The trustees of the Elizabeth 
McCormick Memorial Fund offered to finance the educational campaign for the 
State, and the director of that fund was also made the State Chairman of the 
Child Welfare Department. 

Survey of Child Life Conditions — The initial move of the new department 
was a survey of the conditions surrounding child life in the various communities 
throughout the State by means of a comprehensive questionnaire to local repre- 
sentatives of the Woman's Committee. The purpose of the questionnaire was 
twofold : First, to get as comprehensive an idea as possible of the conditions in 
the State and the needs of the various communities, so that an ideal might be 
held up toward which the committees could work ; second, to show the com- 
munities themselves what agencies might exist for the benefit of their children, 
and how far below the standard of adequate care they fell. The returns were 
practically those anticipated. The majority of the communities answered "No" 
to nearly every question. The answers plainly showed the need for an organ- 
ized committee to work toward the establishment of adequate health provisions 
in their communities. 

Building the Organisation — Each county chairman of the State Council of 
Defense was asked to appoint a child welfare chairman in every county, to see 
that every city, town and rural township was represented by a chairman, to 
include on her committee representatives of all groups and agencies working for 
children or interested in child welfare, and especially to co-operate with the 
existing county committee organized under the Society for the Prevention of 
Tuberculosis. At present, there are 1,008 Child Welfare chairmen, county and 
local, in the State. Only three counties are still without chairmen and com- 
mittees. The organization of the State office was as follows : 

Chairman of the Child Welfare Department, Mrs. Ira Couch Wood; 
Vice-Chairman, Miss Mary E. Murphy; Medical Adviser, in direct 
charge of the Chicago work. Dr. Caroline Hedger ; Publicity Chairman, 
Mrs. John H. Hardin. Advisory Committee : Dr. I. A. Abt, Miss 
Minnie H. Ahrens, Mrs. Edward S. Beck, Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, Dr. 
Joseph Brennemann, Miss Mamie Bunch, Dr. E. B. Cooley, Miss Anne 
S. Davis, Dr. C. St. Clair Drake, Dr. Clarence W. East, Dr. W. A. 
Evans, Miss Edna L. Foley, Dr. Caroline Hedger, Mrs. John C. Hesslar, 
Dr. C. E. Humiston, Mrs. Annie P. Kenney, Mrs. Felix Levy, Mrs. 
George McC. Mathes, Dr. May Michael, Mrs. Albert Oppenheimer, Mrs. 
Joseph Medill Patterson, Dr. Arthur Reynolds, Dr. John Dill Robert- 
son, Dr. Clara P. Seippel, Miss Jessie I. Spafford, Miss Gertrude Stone, 
Miss Vera B. Warner, Miss Mary F. Willard, Dr. Sadie Bay Adair, Mrs. 
Benjamin Auerbach, Miss Jessie P. Binford, Mrs. O. P. Borland, Dr. 
Frank G. Bruner, Mrs. Thomas Burns, Mrs. Walter Dakin, Dr. Effa V. 
Davis, Mrs. E. C. Dudley, Mrs. Robt. B. Ennis, Mrs Charles Frankenthal, 
Mrs. Mabel A. Giliam, Dr. Henry F. Helmholz, Mrs. J. L. Houghteling, 
Mrs. F. P. Ide, Mrs. B. F. Langworthy, Miss Minnie Low, Mrs. Cyrus 
Hall McCormick, Mr. Victor Olander, Dr. George T. Palmer, Dr. Anna 
R. Ranes, Mr. W. S. Reynolds, Mrs. Albert H. Schweizer, Mr. John D. 
Shoop, Mrs. Albert Stein, Mrs. Frederick Tice, Mrs. Edward P. Welles, 
Dr. A. Lindsay Wynekoop. 

Illinois Program Published — Following the returns from the questionnaire, 
the Illinois program for the Children's Year was published as follows : 

1. Co-operation with the State authorities to secure 100 per cent 
registration of births and deaths in Illinois. 

2. A community nurse in every county. 

3. More extensive training for nurses in public health work. 



140 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

4. The establishment of a school for midwives to meet the new 
requirements of the State law, and as a means of lowering infant and 
maternal mortality. (Forty-nine per cent of the births in Chicago are 
still in the hands of midwives.) 

5. Formulation of a plan to assist the State Department of Health 
through its established clinics for Poliomyelitis. 

6. Investigation of the possibilities of securing physicians for 
"Baby Week" demonstration, maternity clinics, etc., in different parts of 
the State. 

7. Protection of the milk supply so that every child may be assured 
of a pure and abundant supply. 

8. Creation of a central supply station for all child welfare exhibit 
material — moving picture reels, charts, photographs, prepared lectures, 
etc. 

9. Preparation and collection for distribution of bulletins and 
pamphlets on all aspects of infant and child welfare. 

10. Sending speakers and organizers through the State to start the 
campaign of publicity and education, arrange for the exhibits, etc. 

11. Investigation of a plan for refitting an old Pullman car or 
equipping an automobile for a permanent child welfare exhibit, to be 
sent throughout the State, especially to rural counties. 

12. The existing organization of the Woman's Committee, Council 
of National Defense, to be used in carrying out this program. 

Weighing and Measuring of Children — On March 1, 1918, the Medical 
Board of the Council of National Defense, the Woman's Committee of the 
Council of National Defense, and the Children's Bureau of the United States 
Department of Labor named the second year of the war "The Children's Year" 
and issued a program for Child Welfare in war-time, which called upon the 
women of the country to save 100,000 of the 300,000 children under five years 
of age who die annually, largely from preventable causes. In its main points the 
government program was identical with that of Illinois, but it added one new 
feature — the weighing and measuring of all children under six years old. Weight 
and height are recognized as the two best indications of a child's development. 
The weighing and measuring tests were started as soon as sufficient organization 
in the State and city had been attained to make the work possible. Wherever the 
weighing and measuring was done with care, children notably below weight have 
been discovered ; also those with serious physical defects. 

Campaign in Chicago — Each ward had a Child Welfare Chairman, who, 
together with her committee, was responsible for carrying out the program of the 
department. The success of the campaign in Chicago was made possible largely 
through the hearty co-operation of volunteer workers and also of many agencies : 
the Department of Health, the Infant Welfare Society, the Visiting Nurse Asso- 
ciation, the Jewish Aid, the United Charities, the Kindergarten Association, the 
Parent-Teacher organizations, the Day Nursery Association and the Settlement 
Association ; also by clubs, churches and social workers ; at the Municipal Pier 
and at the lion house in Lincoln Park. Experience proved conclusively that 
health instruction should be brought to the people where they naturally congre- 
gate. At the War Exposition two brief demonstrations a week on the weighing 
and measuring test were planned, merely to show how it was carried on. There 
was no need to import children for this ; the moment the crowd realized what 
was going on, it became apparent that the children and facts concerning their 
care were an attraction, and we were asked to have a demonstration every day, 
and finally, to have it continuously during the entire afternoon. 

Courses in Child Care — Two important features of the Educational Cam- 
paign in Chicago have been the courses in child care instituted by the depart- 
ment. The first course, consisting of ten lectures, was given under the auspices 
of the Child Welfare Department and the Teaching Center of the Red Cross. 
This was repeated in February, 1919. At the request of the Federation of Day 
Nurseries, a course for matrons was given, jointly with the School of Domestic 
Science, the aim being to establish certain standards of health and hygiene as 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 141 

they apply to nurseries and children's institutions. In February, 1919, the 
department gave a course in child care for the Guardians of the Camp Fire 
Girls and the leaders of the Girls' Patriotic League. 

Infant Welfare Society Extended — Probably the most important result of 
the child welfare campaign in Chicago has been the plan to enlarge the scope 
of the Infant Welfare Society. The weighing and measuring tests discovered 
countless children below weight, often with physical defects of a serious nature; 
also that there were more infants needing care than were being reached by the 
Infant Welfare Society, and many children betwen two and six who, unless 
really sick and therefore hospital cases, had no place within the city where they 
could receive care. This campaign also showed that the Infant Welfare centers 
in the crowded and poor sections did not reach more prosperous groups needing 
attention. It is evident that instruction in child care is not a matter of charity 
but one of education, and the Child Welfare Department has attempted to pro- 
mote this idea. It was not the desire of the department to start a new child 
health agency. An agreement was reached whereby the Infant Welfare Society 
would enlarge its present stations to include children up to six, and will, as soon 
as the funds are available, add new stations which will be considered Child 
Health centers for all children up to school age. 

Organization of State Campaign — For the work outside of Chicago, the 
Child Welfare Chairmen were also dependent for success upon the co-operation 
of laymen and women, physicians and nurses, parent-teacher associations, school 
people, clergymen and various agencies and individuals. The state Department 
of Health aided materially. In the larger cities, settlement houses and other 
social centers were used. In the majority of cities, the public schools were 
used. The rural communities in many counties used the district school as a 
center. In some cases basket picnics or social gatherings were arranged with 
the weighing and measuring. During the summer and early fall the weighing 
and measuring tests were held in connection with numerous fairs and a few 
Chautauquas, and in places where the people naturally congregated. 

Reports of Work in the State — The ideal way to conduct the weighing and 
measuring test was of course to have a complete physical examination made and 
this was encouraged wherever possible. The reports of the conditions of the 
children weighed and measured differed greatly according to the communities 
and also according to the thoroughness of the test. The estimate of the con- 
dition of the children varied from the most optimistic view, "Practically all of 
our children are in excellent condition," to a more careful statement that 75% 
were below the standard in some respects." In one community where very 
careful physical examination was given by physicians, 1,832 children were weighed 
and measured, of whom only 783 were average or above. In another, where most 
accurate work was done, 2,835 children were examined and only 798 of these 
were found average or above. 

Down-State Results — The next step, where defects were noted, was to for- 
mulate a plan for follow-up work among the children tested, and for Child 
Health centers where mothers might bring their children for conference and 
examination. Several centers have already been opened as a direct result of the 
weighing and measuring campaign. One, for example, has two conference 
periods a week and is open every day; and nurses go out to follow up all chil- 
dren who are 10 per cent or more below weight. In an industrial city a very 
active committee has a complete physical examination, with the co-operation of 
doctors and nurses, of all children weighed and measured. It quickly found the 
need for health centers, especially among the foreign people near the factories, 
and two have been opened, one actually in the steel mills. One item in the 
plan of the department was to make possible a community nurse in every county. 
As a direct result of the test, nurses have been secured for many cities and 
rural communities, and many counties are asking for a nurse, and have voted 
the money for one. In at least 100 communities, nurses are being sought. An 
interesting result has been association of the school house with this health 
activity. 

Birth Registration Campaign — As a part of the child welfare plan, an 
active campaign for complete birth registration was inaugurated. This year Illi- 



142 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

nois was again tested to see whether the birth registration was complete enough 
to admit our state into the census area. We have failed to be admitted, and com- 
mittees throughout the state have, because of this, seen the necessity for further 
activity on their part. Although there is a law requiring every physician and 
midwife to register births attended by them, yet this law is not carried out. 
The campaign is still going on, and will continue until Illinois has been admitted 
to the census area. To carry on this campaign, newspaper publicity was made 
use of, as well as slides for the "movies," not only in English, but in foreign 
languages, with four minute speeches at the "movies" and longer addresses to 
various organizations. 

Recreation Drive — Another item of the Children's Year program was the 
recreation drive culminating in the Patriotic Play Week. The purpose of this 
drive was stated as follows: "To provide recreation for children and youths; 
abundant, decent, protected from every form of exploitation." Its primary pur- 
pose was to increase physical vigor among children. The plan for the Patriotic 
Play Week was published early in the summer of 1918. As there was already a 
Recreation and Health Department, this plan was turned over to it, but the 
Child Welfare chairmen throughout the state were asked to cooperate. The 
returns from the questionnaire which the Child Welfare Department sent out 
early in the year had shown conclusively that there was very great need for 
stimulating interest in play. The child with all the open space imaginable can 
still be quite the loneliest figure in the world, and his play quite futile. The 
Child Welfare Department feels that continued effort for proper recreation must 
be a part of its program. 

Co-operation with Other Agencies — In carrying out the plan for Illinois, 
the Child Welfare Department has consistently cooperated with agencies already 
in the field and has made a special point of cooperating with the state Depart- 
ments of Health and Public Welfare; also with the nurses of the Cook County 
Social Service Department. There is at present a survey being made in Cook 
county, as to the prevalence among school children of subnormality, under the 
joint authorization of the Child Welfare Department and the Child Study 
Department of Rush Medical College. The Child Welfare committees have 
proved of great service in helping to carry through other activities of allied 
interest, in particular the cause of the Association for the Prevention of 
Tuberculosis. The department has also sought to collect all of the best material 
available on child care and has sent this material out to committees, clubs and 
centers where information on child welfare is desired. 

Publicity Efforts — In Chicago and throughout the state, newspaper space 
has been very generously accorded. Fifty sets of slides and motion picture reels 
on child welfare, open air and open window rooms, and allied subjects, have 
been used extensively. Ten sets of colored panels on healthy babies and chil- 
dren, one set on pre-natal care, 5 sets on tuberculosis in childhood, 10 sets pub- 
lished by the American Medical Association, 20 sets in black and white on the 
health of the school child, 3 sets of charts provided by the Illinois Society for 
the Prevention of Blindness, and charts and exhibits on open air schools, have 
been sent to 95 communities holding baby welfare weeks, state conventions, chau- 
tauquas or county fairs. The department made a special exhibit with that of 
the State Council of Defense at the State Fair and at the War Exposition in 
Chicago. The department used, all told, 16,000 Children's Year posters, about 
1,500 of the President's message furnished by Washington, and 10,000 of a 
special poster printed by the department for use in the state, as well as 5,000 
copies of the weighing and measuring posters issued by the National Association 
for Child Welfare; 91,500 window cards and 125,000 buttons, the latter given to 
children tested. A very important feature of the campaign has been the meeting 
of clubs and other groups with the active workers and volunteer speakers to 
address them. Meetings were arranged in connection with county fairs and 
chautauquas, and large audiences were reached in this way; 296 meetings have 
been addressed during the child welfare campaign, reaching about 40,000 people. 

Health of the School Child — Special consideration of the health of the 
school child has been made a vital part of the plan for the Child Welfare 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 143 

Department. Surveys of school children throughout the country have hrought 
to light startling facts concerning the ill health and prevalence of defects, and 
especially is the problem of malnutrition a serious one. We are attempting to 
gain the cooperation of school autliorities to include in the activities of the 
schools health education among the children. We hope to have scales put into 
every school in Illinois, so that the children may be weighed regularly. A very 
happy cooperation has been arranged between the parent-teacher associations and 
the Child Welfare Department. The following items have been urged upon them 
as activities to foster : 

Birth Registration; Medical and Dental Inspection in Schools; Estab- 
lishment of a County, Community or School Nurse ; Thorough Venti- 
lation of School Rooms ; Sanitary Arrangements ; Drinking Fountains ; 
Playgrounds; Installation of a Platform Scale and Measuring Rod in 
each School Building; Installation of a Set of Health Charts to be used 
as a Loan Exhibit or as a Basis for Instruction in Hygiene ; Organi- 
zation of Little Mothers' Leagues or Classes Among Girls of the 
Seventh and Eighth Grades. 

Back-to-School Drive — There has been a combination of circumstances 
causing children to leave school. Wages have been higher so that children 
between 14 and 16 have been tempted to give up further education and go into 
industry. Economic necessity in some cases has seemed to force children from 
school. The back-to-school drive has expressed its purpose in the words of 
President Wilson : "That no boy or girl shall have less opportunity for educa- 
tion because of the war." This drive has two phases: One the returning to 
school wherever possible of those children who have left school too early; and, 
second, to keep in school, by various plans, those children who might be tempted 
to leave as soon as the law would permit. 

Results of Children's Year Campaign in Illinois — It is difficult to itemize 
the results of the Child Welfare campaign — the very best work done and that of 
the most permanent value cannot be set forth in figures or comparisons. We 
consider the educational campaign has been of the utmost value in promoting 
public health and child welfare even in the remotest parts of the state. Fol- 
lowing is a summary of certain outstanding facts coming out of the campaign : 
\. 1,008 Child Welfare chairmen and committees have served through- 
out Illinois. 

2. 322,000 weighing and measuring cards have been sent out. 

3. Complete physical examination by physicians has been made in 50 
communities. 

4. Follow-up programs for children below standard have been started 
in 50 communities. 

5. Twelve child health centers have been established and plans made 
for more. 

6. A Child Welfare League has been established in one county. 

7. Many conference groups for mothers have been established. 

8. The Infant Welfare Society of Chicago has decided to enlarge its 
scope to include children up to six. 

9. The Chicago Woman's Club has decided to maintain a child health 
center. 

10. The campaign for a 100 per cent registration of births has made 
headway. 

11. A central source for educational material — literature, charts, slides, 
reels, etc. — has been created at 6 North Michigan Avenue. 

12. The campaign has furthered constructive plans for public health 
throughout Illinois. 

13. Interest has been stimulated in the health of the school child, and 
the conditions of school houses. 

14. The cooperation of the parent-teacher associations, woman's clubs 
and other groups has been secured. 

15. Interest has been aroused in the condition of the rural school child. 
16. Playground apparatus has been placed in school yards in many com- 
munities and rural districts. 



144 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

17. A campaign of publicity for education has been continuously 
carried on. 

18. It has been the attempt to lay the foundation for permanent organ- 
izations on behalf of the children. 

19. The Elizabeth McCormick Memorial stands ready to go on wivh 
a state campaign. 

20. The campaign has served to make Child Welfare and Public Health 
measures of concern for the community as a whole, and no longer 
special provisions of charity. 

Results Told in Figures — Expressed in figures, the results of the year were: 

County Child Welfare Chairmen 99 

Local Child Welfare Chairmen in Cook County 48 

Local Child Welfare Chairmen in other counties 827 

Chicago Ward Chairmen 34 

Total 1,008 

Committees receiving weighing and measuring cards outside of Chicago.. 820 

Committees receiving weighing and measuring cards in Chicago 312 

Total, indicating active groups 1,132 

Weighing and measuring cards sent out 322,000 

Weighing and measuring centers established in Chicago 264 

Meetings held outside of Chicago Ill 

Meetings held in Chicago 185 

Number in audiences addressed 41,608 

Pieces of general literature sent out 487,693 

Pieces of educational literature sent out 315,150 

Governmental pamphlets distributed 46,000 

Total (including weighing and measuring cards) 1,214,143 

Expenses for the year — 

Salaries $5,688.03 

Trips and speakers 759.24 

City meetings 191.15 

Printing 4,029.23 

Postage — Expense 1,554,41 

Supplies 762.11 

Exhibit Material 595.83 

Equipment 645.79 

Publicity 4,230.67 

Carfare, taxi, etc 509.06 

Telephone and Telegraph 379.67 

Rent 450.00 

Miscellaneous 32.17 

Total $19,827.36 

Less Donations 278.00 

Total cost $19,549.36 

A foundation has been laid for work in behalf of children which can never 
cease. The year has seen a change in the attitude of the people from a com- 
placency which amounted to real indifference to a recognition of our problem 
and a practical activity to solve it. For this reason, then, the Children's Year 
will never end. 

Department of Women and Children in Industry 

In administering the work of the department the chairman has acted under 
a variety of appointments from state and national officials, which may be noted 
as follows : 

Chairman of the Department of Women and Children in Industry, 
of the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense and the 
State Council of Defense ; Industrial Chairman for the State of Illinois 
of the National League for Woman's Service ; Chairman of the Illinois 
Committee on Women in Industry of the Committee on Labor of the 
Advisory Commission of the National Council of Defense. 
At the first meeting of the department, held on May 18, 1917, the following 
officers were elected : 

Chairman, Mrs. Raymond Robins ; Vice-Chairman, Mrs. C. C. 
Bullock; Treasurer, Miss Dorothy Sterling; Secretary, Miss Katherine 
McFadon; Assistant Secretary, Miss Mary Murphy; Executive Secre- 
tary, Miss Katherine Harris. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 145 

Changes have occurred as follows : In December, 1917, Mrs. C. C. Bullock 
resigned because of her duties with the Y. W. C. A. and there was no Vice 
Chairman until 1918, when Mrs. W. S. Hefferan was appointed. Mrs. Hefferan 
was Acting Chairman during Mrs. Robins' absence from the city, from July, 
1918, until the writing of this report. The office of Treasurer was abolished 
January, 1918, when the handling of all funds was taken over by the Executive 
Committee of the committee. Miss McFadon resigned in March, 1918, to be 
married, and her work was taken over by the Executive Secretary. This 
position was held by Miss Maude Smith from July to September, 1917 ; by Miss 
Anne Watson from October, 1917, to March, 1918, and by Mrs. W. Dow Harvey 
from August, 1918, to the present time, January, 1919. Miss Mildred Trilling 
was with the department as official investigator from October, 1917, to March, 
1918. Committees were appointed as follows : 

Children in Industry— Mrs. Addison Moore, Chairman ; Children in 
Agriculture — Miss Jessie Binford, Chairman; Law Enforcement — Miss 
Edith Wyatt, Chairman ; Day Nurseries — Mrs. E. D. Dudley, Chairman ; 
Alien Women — Miss Mary E. McDowell, Chairman ; Colored Women — 
Miss S. P. Breckenridge, Chairman ; Industrial Standards — Miss Agnes 
Nestor, Chairman; Industrial Readjustment — Miss Susan Ryerson, Chair- 
man ; Publications — Mrs. Amy Walker Field, Chairman ; Registration- 
Miss Elizabeth Christman, Chairman. 

Program — The following program, or schedule of work to be undertaken 
by the department, was endorsed by the Executive Committee of the Woman's 
Committee, and was adopted by vote of department members in May, 1917 : 

1. Membership — to be as representative as possible of the citizen- 
ship of the State. 

2. Cooperation with the State Council of Defense. 

3. Cooperation with the Citizen's War Bureau. 

4. Registration — secured through: (a) trade organizations; (b) 
visit to factories, offices, stores, workshops; (c) wives of organized 
working men; (d) tenement house mothers. 

5. Printing and distributing leaflets which will state concisely the 
experience of England and France on the need of protecting women 
and children workers in war time. 

6. A sub-committee to look after the enforcement of labor laws. 

7. A sub-committee to look after the enforcement of laws affecting 
children. 

8. A Sub-Committee on Adjustments, to see that wherever women 
take places of men and do the same work, they shall receive the 
same wage. 

9. Close cooperation with the Committees on Home Relief, Allied 
Relief and Red Cross. 

10. Cooperation with the Illinois State Committee of the National 
Women's Trade Union League. 

11. Cooperation with the Industrial Department of the Young 
Women's Christian Association (17 in Illinois). 

According to the last census, there are 500,000 working women in the state 
of Illinois. 

For the first year department meetings were held once a month, at which 
committee chairmen made reports and all matters of general policy were deter- 
mined. Later general meetings were held at no set interval but only when some 
matter of interest to all the sub-committees seemed to demand it. Sub-commit- 
tees met at the call of their respective chairmen. 

Sub-Committee on Children in Industry — This committee has worked dili- 
gently for the passage of the Child Labor bill, and since the law went into effect 
in July, 1917, for the enforcement of its provisions. In connection with the 
Committee on Children in Agriculture and the Scholarship Committee of the 
Vacation Supervision League, this committee undertook a vigorous campaign 
for the proper supervision of children and young people who might be sent to 
the country to work on farms. An effort was made to establish a close affilia- 
tion with the Boys' Working Reserve, but by July 23, the director of the organi- 



146 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

zation reported that it was not yet working. Measures were taken to induce 
the city council to insist upon a proper policing of "Newspaper Alley." Miss 
Anne Herkner, loaned to the committee for three weeks, visited eighteen indus- 
trial towns in Illinois and found : That outside of Chicago few children are 
in factories and stores but are in street trades for which the child labor law 
makes no provision; that there is no uniform method for issuing certificates 
under the child labor law; that enforcement of the law varies widely in strict- 
ness ; that no adequate provision is made for the physical examination required 
by law before a child is entitled to an employment certificate. 

Later Miss Elsie Atkins worked for six months carrying on a still more 
intensive and constructive investigation of down state conditions, which was 
continued by Miss Mary F. Stone. The committee also prepared an exhibit on 
Child Labor which was circulated through the State. 

Sub-Committee on Day Nurseries — The Chairman of this Committee, Mrs. 
E. C. Dudley, is also president of the Chicago Association of Day Nurseries, 
and as such has reported passage of an ordinance "Regulating the Establishment, 
Operation and Management of Day Nurseries." In October, 1917, the Com- 
mittee petitioned the Health Commission to take action on the high cost of milk 
distribution. In most of the day nursery boards, standardization committees 
have been organized. The committee assisted the Committee on Colored 
Women in Industry in establishing a day nursery for colored children. 

Sub-Committee on Foreign Born Women — This committee. Miss Mary E. 
McDowell, Chairman, has given special attention to furnishing instruction in 
English and in American ideals to the alien working women. It secured the 
cooperation of a number of manufacturers who employ many workers of foreign 
birth and formed classes among the women as early as August, 1917. In Jan- 
uary, 1919, there were classes in sixty-seven factories and thirty public schools; 
also training classes for club women, teachers, and others who wished to pre- 
pare to enter that work. An investigation of the conditions under which 
women — mothers of small children — were working at night in the stock yards 
of Chicago, brought to light the following: 

(a) That in our packing house plants women were working ten 
hours a night. 

(b) That 42 out of 46 women investigated had children under 
school age. 

(c) That by reason of home cares these women were losing on an 
average the equivalent of two nights' rest a week. 

The findings were placed before representatives of four large packing 
firms, who accordingly prohibited night work in their firms for mothers of 
children under school age. The Committee has done effective work also in 
translating into many languages six bulletins on the danger of over-fatigue, 
sweat shop labor, the protection of mothers, war contract standards, etc. The 
work of the sub-committee was taken over by the Americanization Committee 
when the latter was formed, July, 1918. 

Sub-Committee on Colored Women — During the first weeks of the Com- 
mittee's life. Miss S. P. Breckenridge, Chairman, it persuaded the League on 
Urban Conditions Among Negroes to take up the work of finding ernployment 
for, and visting, the wage earning colored women for the purpose of improving 
their standards of efficiency and to supply a trained worker to the United States 
Employment Service. Later the committee was able to place an educational 
visitor among colored women in packing plants. In the third place, the com- 
mittee was an agency through which various groups interested in better care for 
colored children were brought together, with the result that a day nursery for 
colored children was opened. Plans have been laid for two more day nurseries. 

Sub-Committee on Industrial Standards — Upon its organization, this Com- 
mittee, Miss Elizabeth Maloney, Chairman, determined to base its efforts on a 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 147 

schedule of standards, prepared and endorsed by the National Women's Trade 
Union League, as follows : 

1. Adult labor. 

2. Wages — ■ 

(a) The highest prevailing rate of wages in the industry which 
the contract affects. 

(b) Equal pay for equal work. 

(c) Those trades where there is no wage standard whatsoever 
shall be placed in the hands of an adjustment committee. 

(d) That all wages be adjusted from time to time to meet the 
increased cost of living. 

3. The eight hour day. 

4. One day's rest in seven. 

5. Prohibition of night work for women. 

6. Standards of sanitation and fire protection. 

7. Protection against over-fatigue and industrial diseases. 

8. Prohibition of tenement house labor. 

9. Exemption from the call into industry of women having small 
children who need their care. 

10. Exemption from the call into industry of women two months 
before and two months after childbirth. 

After considerable effort and publicity, the Committee secured the approval 
of General Crozier, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, for these standards. All 
war contracts were thereafter drawn in conformity therewith. No sooner had 
war contracts been awarded than it became apparent that if tenement house 
work was tolerated, sweat shop conditions were likely to prevail. The Com- 
mittee therefore presented the situation to the Secretary of War, and received 
from Secretary Baker satisfactory assurances. In compliance with requests from 
the Departments of War and Labor, and occasionally at the request of indi- 
viduals, the committee investigated working conditions in a number of manu- 
facturing plants, reporting its findings to the Departments of War and Labor, 
as well as to the National and State Councils of Defense. 

Committee on Publications — The special province of the Committee on Pub- 
lications, at its inception, was to rule on all matters proposed by the depart- 
ment, or any of its members, to be printed for general distribution. Mrs. Amy 
Walker Field, Chairman, conceived the idea of influencing public sentiment 
by exhibiting some valuable statistics which illustrated the increase in juvenile 
delinquency caused by war conditions ; the need of the eight hour day, of the 
minimum wage, and of equal pay for equal work; the comparative results 
attained by the child who is without and the child who is given the advantage of 
educational guidance. When Mrs. Herman Adler took over the Chairmanship 
she continued this. An additional elaborately illustrated series of charts widely 
used was entitled "Voiceless Speech." Another voiceless speech was made with 
pictures of women in unusual occupations. One voiceless speech was sold to 
Indiana for their eight hour day campaign. 

General Activities — A Center, to establish a bond of fellowship with the 
foreign born, was opened in the Italian-Polish section. Soon there was demand 
for a kindergarten, and for instruction in manual training, in English, sewing 
and knitting". After the registration was over in November the Center was 
kept open as a kind of boys' and girls' club. The police of the neighborhood 
reported that juvenile delinquency was greatly lessened. In February, 1918, the 
department began to urge upon Washington a Women in Industry Service in 
the Department of Labor, and continued to urge this until such a service was 
established (July 15th, 1918), with an appropriation from Congress of $4,000,000. 
In November the department began to work for the establishment of such a 
service in the Department of Labor in Illinois. 

Printed matter has been prepared and distributed by the department as 
follows : 

A circular letter, explaining the plan and purpose of the Depart- 
ment, and asking for cooperation. 



14S STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

An outline of the work of the Department. 
A Hst of Committees. 

11,000 letters to Trade Union and other Social agencies throughout 
the State, enclosing copy of the standards, and asking for cooperation. 

10,000 copies of Secretary Baker's telegram in regard to tenement 
house labor on army clothing contracts. 

600 letters to Federated Women's Clubs asking for the presentation 
of the standards in their programs. 

10,000 leaflets on Child Labor Law. 

300 reports of the June Conference of Women in Industry. 

In the beginning the department undertook to finance itself, and it continued 

to do so until the first of January, 1918, when finances were placed in the 

hands of the Treasurer of the Executive Committee. Up to that time the 

department had received contributions of $2,119.95 and had expended $2,108.23. 

Social Service Department 

In the second year of the war, governments awoke to the necessity of 
safe-guarding the welfare of the people at home, for during the first two 
years when everyone rushed heart and soul into war work, the neglect of 
social service resulted in a marked increase in juvenile delinquency, in crime 
and misery, and in a general lowering of the standards of living. Realizing 
the danger of this, the first step of the Social Service Department was to appeal 
to each community to stand by its social work. The department then sent out 
questionnaires to 500 agencies asking them how they had been affected by the 
war, and what special assistance they needed. The answers to the questionnaires 
showed two imperative needs : 

1. The need of increased financial support owing to the increased 
cost of operation. 

2. The need of volunteer service to take the place of the many 
paid workers who had been called to war service. 

This gave the department the clue that the best way to serve the com- 
munity was to direct some of the enthusiasm for service aroused by the war to 
the social agencies. 

The Bureau for Volunteer Service was started at 60 East Madison street. 
Dealings with volunteers who came soon proved the necessity, if volunteers were 
to be of any real value, of working toward the standardization of volunteer 
service and special training. Hence through the first summer the efforts of the 
department were confined to organizing this bureau. In the fall four committees 
were formed : on state work under the chairmanship of Miss Amelia Sears ; on 
group service under the chairmanship of Mrs. Arthur Farwell; on education 
and propaganda under the chairmanship of Mrs. Franklin Leavitt ; on volunteer 
service under the chairmanship of Miss Marion Curtiss. The history of the 
department divides itself into a history of the work of these four committees. 

Committee on State Work — In conjunction with the Child Welfare Depart- 
ment a questionnaire went out to determine the extent to which social service 
was in progress throughout the state. Out of two thousand of these ques- 
tionnaires, 72 were returned unanswered ; 313 were returned partially answered 
with results as follows : 

(1) Thirty-seven communities reported charity organization socie- 
ties. 

(2) 285 reported no organized work. 

(3) General information on the subject of public outdoor relief 
seemed to be lacking. 

(4) 184 communities reported no increase in applications for aid 
while only 13 reported increases. 

(5) 140 communities reported no decrease in the support given com- 
munity work while 23 reported a decrease. 

(6) 220 communities reported no women employed in shops and 
factories who were formerly home workers. 

(7) Of the 37 communities reporting associated charities, 21 had 
paid workers and in 12 instances these workers had had special training. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 149 

Agencies caring for social work, in 249 communities having no associated 
charities, included Women's Clubs, Churches or Welfare Leagues and all manner 
of organizations. The result of these questionnaires was a demand on the part 
of the Social Service Chairmen throughout the state for a program. The pro- 
gram was later sent by Washington to all states as a suggested program for 
state work of the department. It dealt with : 

1. Health of the Community. 

2. Recreation. 

3. Treatment of Juveniles both Dependent and Delinquent. 

4. Care of the Community Poor. 

5. Mother's Pensions. 

6. Care of People in the Institutions of the Community. 

As a result of the work of this department and the Child Welfare Depart- 
ment, a card catalog has been compiled of people doing or interested in social 
service work throughout the state. 

Education and Propaganda — As there was already a similar committee of 
the Chicago Council of Social Agencies, it was decided to combine these two 
committees, with Mr. B. C. Roloff, of the Central Council of Social Agencies, 
as Chairman, and Mrs. Leavitt as Vice-Chairman. A city-wide campaign of 
education was undertaken. The work of education was carried on by con- 
ferences which were held twice a week at the City Club. 

Committee on Group Service — This committee in the beginning organized 
knitting groups in settlements and taught many who otherwise would never 
have been able to work for the soldiers and sailors. The committee taught 
knitting also to the inmates of some county and state institutions. It has been 
impossible to tabulate all the knitting done but approximately 864 sweaters, 297 
pairs of socks, 449 helmets, 49 wristlets, 4 scarfs and 51 pairs of gloves were 
produced, and 23 convalescent robes and 13 garments have been made. Through 
the committee money was secured to pay the salary of a teacher in Occupational 
Therapy for the County Infirmary. The committee has also provided enter- 
tainments at the institutions and settlements. 

Committee on Volunteer Service — The work of this committee has been 
done largely through the office. The plans for work have been formulated by a 
joint committee of the Central Council of Social Agencies and the Social Serv- 
ice Department. The general committee has been divided into 3 sub-committees : 
on recruiting, on training courses, and on standardizing the use of volunteers. 
The sub-committee on recruiting has worked steadily to secure volunteers whose 
personal equipment would fit them for the service asked for by the social 
agencies. Through the efforts of the sub-committee on morning courses, short 
courses for volunteers have been arranged in cooperation with the Chicago 
School of Civics and Philanthropy and the Loyola School of Sociology. The 
Sub-Committee on Standardizing the Use of Volunteers has been instrumental 
in having published by the Central Council of Social Agencies a bulletin on 
voluntary service which includes the material secured by this committee and 
principles which became apparent through the experience of the committee, and 
outlines of suggested methods for supervising and training volunteers. As a 
result of the work of these three sub-committees, 1,463 volunteers, of whom 
75 are men, have been interviewed and registered for service, and there have 
been 1,526 connections made between volunteeers and agencies ; 568 volunteers 
have actually given continuous service. 

Directors of Work — The work of the department lias been done under the 
direction of the following officers and executive committee : 

Chairman, Mrs. Dunlap Smith; Vice-Chairman, May, 1917, to Sep- 
tember, 1917, Mrs. James Quan ; after September, 1917, Mrs. Franklin 
Leavitt ; Secretary and Treasurer, May, 1917, to January, 1918, Miss 
Marion Curtiss ; after January, 1918, Mrs. L. Dudley Carter. Executive 
Committee: Mrs. Arthur Farwell, Miss Leila Houghteling, Miss Harriet 
Houghteling, Mrs. Charlotte G. Kuh, Miss Rose McHugh, Miss Amelia 
Sears, Miss Frances Taussig, Miss Martha Wilson, Miss Jessie Bin- 
ford, Mrs. Basil Ruysdael. 



150 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Social Hygiene Department 

The present Social Hygiene Department was originally the Health and 
Recreation Committee, the aim of which was to coordinate and stimulate all exist- 
ing agencies working for the physical and moral betterment of soldiers and 
sailors and to arouse the lay population in the vicinity of camps to their 
responsibilities toward them. The following is a list of the original members : 
Dr. Rachelle S. Yarros, Chairman; Mrs. Harold L. Ickes, Secre- 
tary; Mrs. E. E. Smith, Mrs. Cyrus Hall McCormick, Mrs. Harlan 
Ward Cooley, Mrs. Edwin L. Lobdell, Mrs. O. W. Stewart, Mrs Julius 
Rosenwald, Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen, Mrs. Emma F. Byers, Mrs. George 
Mathes, Miss Jessie Binford, Mrs. C. C. Bullock, Dr. Harriett C. B. 
Alexander, Mrs. J. Ogden Armour, Mrs. Tiffany Blake, Miss Helen 
Hood, Mrs. Thomas G. Dee, Miss Amelia Sears, Miss Jeannette Bates, 
Mrs. Robert Berry Ennis, Mrs. B. L. Langworthy, Miss Mary Wright- 
son, Dr. Violet Palmer Brown. 

The department, organized on July 6, 1917, and four sub-committees were 
appointed to carry on its work : Medical Committee, Recreation Committee, 
Law Enforcement Committee, Spiritual and Moral Welfare Committee. 

Medical Committee — For many years a Joint Committee on Social Hygiene 
of the Chicago Woman's Club and the Woman's City Club had been carrying on 
a campaign of education among women and girls in Chicago. It was decided 
that this Joint Committee should, for the duration of the war, merge with the 
Medical Committee of the Social Hygiene Department. The object of this com- 
mittee was twofold : 

(a) To organize the leading women physicians in the city and in 
the State to give lectures to older girls and mothers on the dangers of 
venereal disease and arouse the highest ideals of patriotism and mor- 
ality in the community. 

(b) To help co-ordinate and stimulate all the agencies and organi- 
zations doing social hygiene work. 

The first meeting was held July 17, 1917, to coordinate agencies doing social 
hygiene work and to learn what each organization was doing. In a survey from 
Waukegan to Evanston, by the Committee of Fifteen, little evidence of pro- 
fessional prostitution was found. Educational exhibits were installed by the 
Red League at Great Lakes and Fort Sheridan. On July 30tli a dinner meet- 
ing was arranged to organize corps of women physicians to lecture throughout 
the State on the medical aspects of social hygiene and to discuss the winter's 
work. The committee published one of the first leaflets stating the dangers and 
prevalence of venereal diseases threatening the warring armies. 

Recreation Committee — The object of this committee was to coordinate 
so far as possible all recreational forces, with the view to filling the leisure 
periods of sailors and soldiers and the young people of the community with 
proper recreation. The cooperation of downtown clubs was enlisted. A survey 
was made to determine the extent of recreational work done by parks, settle- 
ments, school community centers, churches and various other organizations. A 
local committee was appointed to cooperate with the committee on protective 
work for girls. The efforts of this committee to provide entertainment for 
the soldiers and sailors ceased when the War Recreation Board undertook the 
work. 

Law Enforcement Committee — This committee was created for the pur- 
pose of working with all agencies interested in the enforcement of laws per- 
taining to the sale of liquor and to prostitution. It cooperated with 28 law 
enforcing organizations. It was especially concerned with stopping the sale of 
liquor to soldiers and sailors in Chicago and with establishing a 15-mile zone 
around Great Lakes and Fort Sheridan. Removal of policemen detailed to 
special juvenile work was prevented and 20 special policewomen were detailed 
to dance halls, moving picture houses and the Northwestern Railroad Station. 
The committee also supported a proposed ordinance to prohibit dancing in 
cabarets. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 151 

Spiritual and Moral Welfare Committee — This committee was established 
to work with the churches, Y. W. C. A., Y. M. C. A., and all agencies interested 
in moral welfare of girls, in coordinating and stimulating their activities, and 
to cooperate with the Medical and Law Enforcement Committees. 

Sub-Committees Reorganized — In February, 1918, a reorganization of the 
sub-committees of the Health and Recreation Department took place. The Law 
Enforcement Committee was discontinued because such activities were being 
carried on effectively under the Fosdick Commission. The work of the Recre- 
ation Committee came to an end when the War Recreation Board undertook to 
supply entertainment for soldiers and sailors. A new Committee on Education 
and Recreational Work for Girls, with which the Spiritual and Moral Welfare 
Committee was merged, was created. The functions of the Health and Recrea- 
tion Department were now as follows : 

L To continue the campaign of education among women through 
clubs, mothers' meetings and wherever there are gatherings of women, 
on social hygiene in war time. 

2. To educate young girls to understand themselves better, and to 
realize more fully their responsibilities. 

3. To give groups of girls programs of recreation for their leisure 
hours. 

4. To give a course in recreation to recreation leaders, so that they 
might be able to direct girls' clubs. 

These activities were carried on through a medical committee which sent 
competent women physicians to give talks on social hygiene in war time, and a 
committee on education and recreational work for girls, which organized 
patriotic leagues among girls in social centers, using as a nucleus the existing 
girls' clubs, and organized new groups in factories and industrial establishments. 

The idea of patriotic service leagues was so timely that the demand for 
them came in very rapidly, and in May, 1918, the formation of the Patriotic 
Service League as a separate department of work under the Woman's Com- 
mittee was recommended. At this point it was decided that the Health Commit- 
tee should henceforth be known as the Social Hygiene Committee. The pur- 
poses of the Social Hygiene Committee were : 

1. To continue in a more intensive way the campaign of educa- 
tion among the civilian population, particularly among girls and women 
in industrial establishments. 

2. To establish a Woman's Clinic for the prompt and modern 
treatment of diseases in connection with the Red League Dispensary. 

3. To cooperate in every way with existing law enforcement 
agencies for suppressing vice. 

Educational Work in Chicago — A conference was called of high school prin- 
cipals and deans on June 10, 1918, for the purpose of getting our subject before 
high school teachers, and inaugurating the best method of getting social hygiene 
before the high school graduating classes. Each ward in the city was also 
asked to appoint a social hygiene chairman. At a meeting in June, it was 
decided that the greatest need for education along social hygiene lines was 
among women and girls in factories, stores and other industrial and commer- 
cial establishments. To get the help of employers, there was a conference of 
representatives of 51 large business houses (out of 112 invited) having about 
30,000 employes, a majority women. Systematic lectures to these employes were 
undertaken. There was a very successful course of four lectures given at the 
Chicago Woman's Club to three hundred teachers and ward leaders. Girls 
working in down-town offices were systematically reached by letter. Since 
December, 1918, a government film, "The End of the Road," has been used. 
Another phase of this educational work has been the distribution of social 
hygiene literature, aggregating about 25,000 pamphlets and leaflets, and a poster, 
stating very plainly, scientifically and boldly the dangers of venereal diseases, has 
been widely distributed. From May, 1918, to February 1, 1919, one to three 
lectures were delivered to the women employes of about 100 business houses, 
the audiences ranging in number from 20 to 1,500— usually 100 to 350. 



152 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Medical Work— A woman's clinic for treatment of venereal disease was 
established in connection with the newly organized Red League Dispensary. 
The woman's clinic has been decidedly worth while, first, because of the number 
of women who have received proper treatment and, second, because the right 
standards for such a clinic have been set. Its work, expressed in figures, from 
May, 1918, to February, 1919, was as follows : 

Number of patients (adult) 144 

Minors 15 

169 

Number of Wasserman tests 135 

Number of Salvarsan treatments 79 

Total number of treatments 679 

State Work — Letters went to each county chairman, and 65 of them named 
county social hygiene chairmen, many of whom have appointed local and town- 
ship chairmen and study groups. At the State Fair an exhibit was installed. 
The social hygiene poster was sent to each County Social Hygiene Chairman and, 
where there was none, to the County Chairman. With the cooperation of the 
Social Hygiene Division of the Commission on Training Camp Activities, an 
intensive campaign was started in the state, covering 10 cities. At the end of the 
war the question was : "What will become of this work after the Woman's 
Committee disbands ?" The chairman appealed to the United States Public 
Health Service, and urged the Illinois State Department of Public Health, which 
had received $60,000 as its share of the million dollar appropriation for the 
prevention and treatment of venereal disease made by Congress ,to take over 
this work under its Division of Social Hygiene. This arrangement was car- 
ried through, and this department became a part of the Illinois State Depart- 
ment of Public Health, under the Division of Social Hygiene, the first week in 
February, 1919. 

Recreation for Girls Department 

When the department was formed in February, 1918, no other agency in 
Chicago was doing special work along lines of organized patriotic service with 
girls over fourteen years of age. The girls' organizations under the Woman's 
Committee became known as the Patriotic Service League. The activities of 
the League, which may properly be grouped under the headings of Service, 
Education and Recreation, included classes in Red Cross, allied relief work, home 
nursing, first aid, dramatics, gymnastics, folk dancing, hiking, military drill, etc. 
Special emphasis was laid upon constructive recreation as a form of service. 

Organization of the League — In the organization of each unit the following 
officers and committees were advised : 

1. The Chairman of the Department. 

2. The Organizer, who was the direct representative of the 
Woman's Committee. 

3. A Local Chairman for Girls' Work who became the head of a 
Local Girls' Work Committee, composed of representative women. 

4. A Unit Council of Girls, selected by the Local Committee for 
Girls' Work, from Social, Church and Employed groups. 

The duties of the Local Committee for Girls' Work included : making a 
survey in reference to the type of girls living in the community, and the 
approximate number employed in business offices, industrial centers, as house- 
holders, or enrolled in the high school, and to list centers open to girls over 
fourteen years of age for service, education and recreation ; also organizing 
the Unit Council and arranging for the first girls' rally. The unit council 
officers were captain, lieutenant and sergeant, and as many additional ones as 
were necessary. Through the sergeant the Recreation for Girls Department 
was kept in touch with each unit. The Grand Council was a body composed 
of representatives from each Unit Council, meeting bi-monthly for reports and 
conference. 

Development of the Departtnent — At first, the Department was a part of 
the original Health and Recreation Department. Its purpose, as first con- 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 153 

ceived, has undergone but little change, although the program and method of 
organization have altered. The aim has always been to mobilise the young zvoman 
pozt'cr of Illinois for profitable use of their leisure time. On October 11, 1918, 
a transfer of all work in Lake and Cook counties was made to the War Camp 
Community Service. During its existence, the department organized 35 units 
of the Patriotic Service League in Cook and Lake counties, and 37 units in 19 
other counties, or 72 in all. The Cook and Lake County Units have a mem- 
bership of nearljr 6,000. 

Liberty Chorus and Community Singing 

Upon the urgent request of a group of citizens, the Woman's Committee 
undertook, in February, 1918, to awaken an interest in community singing. The 
original purpose was to assist in training a children's chorus so that children 
would think of the war not so much in terms of battle as in those of honor, jus- 
tice and freedom for which their own fathers and brothers were fighting. The 
committee, of which Mrs. Harold L. Ickes was chairman, was a sub-com- 
mittee of the Health and Recreation Department. On April 30, 1918, the 
Executive Committee appointed Mrs. Harry Hart chairman and approved the 
following committee : Henry L. Dickinson, Grace Temple, Teresa Armitage, 
Henry F. Williams, Warren Mann. 

Organicafioti — From the public, parochial, and religious schools, a group of 
eight hundred children were gathered, who pledged themselves to sing for the 
committee on all patriotic occasions, national holidays, and for any government 
"drive." These children were rehearsed once a week without any cost to them. 
On June 7th, at the Municipal Pier, there was a large community sing, at which 
the children's chorus sang, assisted by four adult choruses and a Jackie band of 
fifty pieces. As the work developed it became apparent that it would be necessary 
to have the entire state represented on the committee, and on August 21st the old 
committee was dissolved. On September 10th, the State Council of Defense of 
Illinois took on community singing as part of its regular activity and the follow- 
ing committee was appointed by Chairman Insull : 

Mrs. Harry Hart, Chairman, representing the Woman's Committee 
of the State Council of Defense; Walter S. Brewster, Chairman, Coun- 
ties Auxiliary and Neighborhood Committee ; Mrs. A. J. Ochsner, Presi- 
dent National Federation of Musical Clubs; Mrs. E. F. Birkholder, 
Chairman of Singing, Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, Streator ; 
William D. Chenery, Civic Music Association, Springfield ; J. Lawrence 
Erb, President Illinois Federation of Musical Clubs, Urbana ; Herbert 
Gould, Director of Community Singing, Camp Dewey, Great Lakes; Mrs. 
Agnes Heath, Superintendent of Music, Board of Education, Chicago; 
Mrs. William A. Hinckle, Community Singing Chairman, Illinois Fed- 
eration of Musical Clubs, Peoria ; Mrs. Harriet Howard, Executive Sec- 
retary, Council of Women, Foreign Language Division ; Herbert Hyde, 
Superintendent Civic Music Association, Chicago ; Peter C. Lutkin, 
Dean N. W. University School of Music, Evanston ; Osborne McCon- 
athy. Superintendent School of Music Annex, N. W. University, Evans- 
ton ; Edgar Nelson, Director Sunday Evening Club ; Miss Jessie I. Spaf- 
ford,. President Illinois Federation of Woman's Clubs, Rockford; Daniel 
Protheroe, Director American Choral Society; Mrs. Harriette Smulski 
Musicians' Club of Women; Harrison Wild, Director Mendelssohn and 
Apollo Clubs ; M. Teresa Armitage ; John Alden Carpenter, Anne Faulk- 
ner Oberndorfer, William L. Tomlins. 

Extending the Work — A booklet describing the value of community sing- 
ing and outlining the plan of organization was sent to the county and unit chair- 
men of the Woman's Committee, the county chairman of the Neighborhood Com- 
mittee and the County and Unit Liberty Chorus and Community Singing chair- 
men, Washington, distributed two hundred and fifty copies to the state directors 
of community singing and to the leaders of national organizations. A song 
leaflet of twelve sings was published and distributed without charge. In all 
seventy-five thousand copies were used. 



154 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Musicians Enlisted — In cooperation with the Federation of Woman's Clubs 
and the Illinois Federation of Musical Clubs, a questionnaire that would produce 
a complete census of professional musicians willing to promote organizations of 
choruses was compiled. Each chairman of a ward organization was asked to 
appoint a Liberty Chorus and Community Singing chairman. At 4 o'clock on 
Thanksgiving Day, in cooperation with the National Council of Women, in every 
city and village in the United States, in the camps, on board ships, and overseas, 
everybody joined in singing the National Anthem. A detailed letter about the 
song book was universally sent out in December. An appeal went out to estab- 
lish as an annual event the singing of Christmas carols by groups of children at 
4 o'clock on the day before Christmas. In January, 1919, instructions were sent 
out for community sings in connection with any public celebration of Lincoln's 
and Washington birthdays ; also that proper recognition be given to the home- 
coming of the soldiers. Choruses organized by the department have sung at 
hospitals, at the War Exposition, for Liberty Loans, at service flag raisings and 
at the State Council's Victory meeting at the Coliseum on November 22, 1918. 
Community singing is not an experiment ; it has proven its worth in the camps, 
and in cantonments, and must go on as a melting-pot movement, so to speak, in 
the general program of Americanization. 

Americanization Department 

The Americaniation Department was organized July, 1918, and each county 
chairman of the Woman's Committee was urged to appoint an Americanization 
chairman. As a basis for an intelligent conception, on the part of each of these 
chairmen, of the work to be done in each community, the department sent out a 
comprehensive questionnaire to develop information on local conditions. The 
answers constitute a "census" of Illinois by counties as to foreign-born popu- 
lation, night school or other Americanization facilities, work now being done, and 
so on. These records should be valuable for inaugurating Americanization work 
through the public schools as provided for by legislation passed by the last Gen- 
eral Assembly. 

Allied Relief Department 

This department, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Russell Tyson, assisted 
various war relief organizations in collecting and disbursing funds, as follows : 

American-British-Frcnch-Belgian Permanent Blind Fund — 

Organized October 1, 1915. 

Amount raised for relief $110,409.22 

Amount disbursed for relief 55,631.40 

Balance on call $ 54,772.82 

Belgian Food Relief Committee of Chicago — 

Organized November, 1914. 

Total amount raised for relief $342,824.46 

Not soliciting further funds. 

Canadian Division — Allied Relief Committee — 

Organized October, 1917. 

Kits distributed to men in service 5,224 

Representing total expenditure of $3,708.08 

Work discontinued November, 1918. 

Daughters of the British Empire — War Relief Shop — 

Organized June, 1917. 

Articles of comfort sent to various battle fronts 

(since August, 1914) 120,000 

Total amount expended for relief work $139,510.00 

War Relief Shop closed February 15, 1919, but organ- 
ization not being a war relief body continues as usual. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 155 

Alliance Francaise — French Red Cross Committee — 
Organized December 12, 1917. 
Supplies sent to France as follows : 

Surgical Dressings 186,435 

Hospital Supplies, Refugee Garments and 

Knitted Goods 16,056 

Amount received, made and distributed, valued at $6,470.22 

Work to continue for some time. 

American Fund for French Wounded — 

Organized latter part of February, 1915. 

Cases of supplies sent to France 8,368 

Representing total expediture of $438,312.15 

Money sent to France 71,883.78 

Total amount expended for relief ..$510,195.93 

Work will discontinue at headquarters in Chicago, May 
1st, 1919. 

Children of the Frontier — ■ 
Organized November, 1917. 

Garments sent to France 13,874 

Representing total expenditure of $12,161.05 

This committee has entirely supported the Chicago colony 

for boys at Cabourg, France, for three years. 
Work to continue for some time. 

Fatherless Children of France — 
Organized February, 1916. 

Orphans adopted since organization 15,349 

Representing total expenditure of $560,238.50 

Work to continue for some time. 

Food for France and Allied Countries Fund — 
Organized May, 1918. 

Money sent to France $42,291.36 

Work discontinued January 1, 1919. 

Franco-American Corrective Surgical Appliance Committee — 
Organized May, 1916. 

Money sent to Paris Committee $14,648.47 

Work to continue for some time. 

Italian Relief Auxiliary — 

Organized October, 1917. 
Supplies sent abroad, as follows : 

Knitted Garments 10,400 

Italian Jackets and Bands 20,755 

Blankets and Comfort Kits 3,440 

Hospital and Refugee Garments 60,265 

Surgical Dressings 240,950 

Total amount expended for supplies $11,611.78 

Total amount expended for food 14,526.02 

Total amount expended for relief work $26,137.80 

Work discontinued March 1st, 1919. 

National Surgical Dressings Committee — 

Organized May, 1917. 

Supplies sent to France, as follows : 

Surgical Dressings 300,000 

Garments 12,000 

Absorbent Cotton (lbs.) 15,000 

Sent in money $1,800.00 

Work discontinued in May, 1918. 



156 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Lake Shore Drive Surgical Dressings Units {Later known as 

War Relief Club) — 

Organized in October, 1917. 

Sent to France, Surgical Dressings, Cases 700 

Valued at more than $10,000.00 

Sent in money 1,600.00 

Work to discontinue April 29, 1919. 

Liberty Loan Department 

Until July, 1918, the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee of Illinois cooperated 
with the Woman's Committee as one of its departments. A new arrangement 
inaugurated at Washington resulted in the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee 
working as a separate organization. This report takes cognizance of the activi- 
ties of the Committee only until July, 1918. 

The Committee assisted in selling the bonds of the Second and Third Lib- 
erty Loans during 1917 and 1918. During the second loan, ninety-six counties 
were organized under twenty-five district chairmen and three vice-chairmen. 
Reports were received from only sixty-eight counties showing $18,437,200 worth 
of bonds subscribed through the efforts of these chairmen and their com- 
mittees. 

In a special school campaign the last week of the drive, the children of 
310 schools sold nearly $3,000,000 worth of bonds, which amount is not included 
in above figures. 

Before the date set for the Third Liberty Loan, organizations were per- 
fected in all of the 102 counties in the State. As a result of the thorough organ- 
ization bv district, county, township and precinct chairmen, the women of the 
State sold $55,635,550 worth of the Third Liberty Loan. Of this amount 
$47,446,300 was sold in fifty-eight counties included in the Seventh Federal Reserve 
District. Chicago and Cook county sold $35,065,400 of this. The forty-four 
counties of the Eighth Federal Reserve District sold $8,189,250. The School 
Committee of the State reported sales amounting to $10,998,900. 

Ward Organizations of the Chicago Unit 

The wards of Chicago were organized for war work. Not all of them ; not 
all organi:jed, either ; but the spur of war made possible a new degree and a 
new kind of organization, unlimited in potentialities. 

The function of this committee was : first, to get certain things done ; second, 
to organize in order to get these things done — and to do these two simultane- 
ously. Obviously the committee had to organize in order to get things done, 
yet the arousing necessity of putting certain things over at once, with speed, 
with spirit, with effectual vigor, forced the Committee through an experience 
parallel to the national predicament. Logically, organization precedes achive- 
ment ; practically, it couldn't. The country was unprepared for war ; it had to 
fight while it was preparing to fight. So, in its littler ways, this Committee 
had to work while it was preparing to work. 

This was the experience of the Ward Department of the Woman's Committee 
to a greater degree than of any other department. This was the experience of 
the individual wards. For the function of the other departments was to pre- 
pare specialized programs and get them applied by the committees of each ward 
organization. The zvards zvere the opportunity of the departments. They were 
there to be used, a body to walk and work and grow at the command of the brain, 
at the command of the other departments. They were created to be the body 
for the brain. 

Theory and Practice — The other departments were confronted by the 
necessity of getting things done without enough machinery; therefore, they used 
all available tools. Theoretically, the ward committees were to apply the plan 
of the Child Welfare Department to the babies in their own wards, and the 
plan of the committee on Community Singing to get their neighbors to sing. 
They were to teach city housewives to save food according to the plan of the 
Conservation Committee. The women in every ward were to educate them- 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 157 

selves to take the places of the absent men according to the plan of the Courses of 
Instruction Department. Agencies doing social work were to be given vol- 
unteer help by the plan of the Social Service Department. Everyone was to 
learn how to run a war garden by the plan of the Department of Food Pro- 
duction. The Departments of Health and Recreation and of Registration 
offered their plans for the girls and women of each ward. Therefore each 
ward leader tried to provide each of these departments with a ward chairman 
to carry out its plans. 

This was the theory. It worked in spite of all the vicissitudes that every- 
where beset the maligned volunteer. The reports of the various departments 
show that a strong thread of accomplishment ran through the hands of changing 
ward workers. In spite of inevitable fluctuations in the wards' personnel, depart- 
ment work in the wards marched on. 

Scope of Ward Work — The Ward Department held out its hands for 
money at the behest of every war charity known to man. Its relation to the 
Red Cross and other organizations outside the Council of Defense was one of 
affiliation during a given time for a given purpose. It initiated activities of its 
own. It made a partal survey of Chicago, in 15 wards. It gave reassuring 
assistance to the alien women when they registered at the police stations. It 
helped in the actual working out of the selective service law by making special 
investigations for the draft boards of certain families of men claiming exemp- 
tion ; by helping the men fill out questionnaires ; by supplying registrants at 
the poling places on September 12th ; by sending a constant stream of clerical 
workers to the local boards, and by serving in many wards as information 
bureaus for drafted men. Three hundred women were trained in filling out 
questionnaires, and served in all parts of the city. The department assisted 
during the influenza emergency by volunteers secured through the wards, and 
by the use of ward headquarters as exchanges for volunteers and patients. Some 
wards organized automobile service; some have done work in naturalization; 
several have had committees to visit the families of soldiers and sailors. Patri- 
otic propaganda was carried on in many. 

Personnel and Organisation — Mrs. Hannah J. Solomon was appointed Chair- 
man of the Chicago Unit at the outset. Mrs. Caroline Hill served as her 
assistant for a time, Miss Alice Thompson succeeding her in April, 1918, as 
Ward Director. Mrs. Irving Stern and Mrs. John Carroll have acted as secre- 
taries to the department, and Mrs. Alfred Loeb gave stenographic service. 
Since October, 1918, valuable office help has been given by Miss Thompson's 
capable assistant. Miss Elaine McCarthy. The thirty-five ward organizations 
were to the Ward Department what the latter was to the Woman's Committee. 
They applied its program. The material for reports has been in some ca'^es 
meagre, for in so loose an organization still "in the making," it has not been 
possible to require systematic ward reports. The most effective worker is often 
the least effective talker about her work. Further, the work of each ward has 
been conditioned by its geographical position, the character of its population, its 
resources in wealth and personnel, the date at which organization began and 
the acquisition of headquarters. 

Effects That Will Last — The real adventures have occurred in the little 
offices in outlying districts, where foreign mothers came to know how to get word 
from that American boy overseas, and countless babies were carried in to be 
weighed while keen-eyed neighbors watched, and from which thirty-five women 
have carried the flag, with scores of comrades, into every corner of Chicago. 
They came to know their communities, their churches, their schools, their 
neighbors. Their social contacts have been rich in variety and rewards. A 
tremendous impetus has been given the forces of democracy and Americaniza- 
tion through what they have given and what they have gained, and their work 
has been a factor not to be ignored in the morale that won the war. 

Conclusions 

It is difficult during these post armistice days as we are closing our work 
with the sounds of victorious bands and marching feet in the air, to judge of the 
permanent results of the Woman's Committee work. 



158 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

In Illinois there was practically a complete county, township, city and town 
organization in every county of the State. 

Women who had never found an interest outside of their homes and their 
limited social spheres learned to love service — community service and service to 
their country ; women for the first time dropped lines of social demarcation and 
prejudice against those of different creed, race, religion, color and convictions 
and worked with them for one big, absorbing, consuming cause. We know the 
majority of these women will never be content to return to their narrow interests 
and diversions of pre-war days, and that there has been developed in every com- 
munity more of a group consciousness than it ever possessed before. 

This will mean a stirring of interest and efifort that will leave its imprint on 
every agency, organization, institution and community in our great state of Illi- 
nois. It will mean a more deeply rooted desire to see justice done and to 
force our democracy really to function in terms of a better community life : 
better homes, better jobs, better conditions of work, and — what is equally impor- 
tant — better opportunities for leisure, play and education. 

In the hope that this social program may be developed, the Woman's Com- 
mittee has offered to assist in the formation of community councils in the state 
and to this end has offered its office, equipment, staff, and substantial financial 
backing to the "Community Councils of Illinois." 

Louise deKoven Bowen, Chairman. 
Annie Maybanks Dow, V ice-Chairman. 



APPENDIX VIII 

PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT, STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

March 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

I have the honor to submit herewith the final report of the Publicity Depart- 
ment of the State Council of Defense of Illinois, covering the period from its or- 
ganization in May, 1917, by authority of the Publicity Committee of the Council, 
to and including February 8, 1919, when it was discontinued. The scope of the 
Department's work may be illustrated by mention of the first and the last things 
it did : 

The first was a report to the Chicago newspapers on an inspection tour of the 
Great Lakes Naval Training Station under the direction of Dr. Frank Billings, to 
allay excitement among the parents of Navy men which had been stirred up by ex- 
aggerated accounts of health conditions at Great Lakes, and particularly in respect 
to meningitis. 

The last thing the Department did was to send out a report of the Council's 
recommendations to the Legislature on the use of English in teaching the com- 
mon branches in all public and private schools of the State, on vocational training, 
on education in personal hygiene, and on educational Americanization work in the 
public schools, all intended to improve the citizenship of the State. 

In between, the Department was busy every day with tasks equally as diverse 
as the ones mentioned. Its activities touched every major and every minor activ- 
ity in Illinois pertaining in any way to the war. 

The 'Department was fortunate at the outset in securing the assistance of Mr. 
William H. Culver, a Chicago newspaper man of experience, ability and vision. 
The Department owed much of whatever success it achieved to the keen intelli- 
gence, the sincere patriotism and the unflagging devotion with which Mr. Culver 
labored in the Council's service. 

Regular News Service Established 

The first week in June, 1917, the Department established a patriotic news 
service for all papers of the State, which was maintained to the end. It was a 
twice-a-day service for all Chicago dailies and the telegraphic news agencies ; 
twice-a-week for all daily papers of the State (about 125) ; once-a-week for all 
weekly papers. 

The purpose of this service was to interpret the war — its causes, its signifi- 
cance, its social, financial and industrial effects, and the personal efforts and sac- 
rifices essential to the winning of it — to the people of Illinois ; also to inform the 
people of the State, day by day and week by week, on the work of the State Coun- 
cil of Defense. 

From the very first the newspaper publishers of the State co-operated with 
the Department to a degree that cannot be over-praised. Later on they were 
organized by counties into county publicity committees, and the chairman of each 
County Publicity Committee became a member of the County Executive Com- 
mittee of his county. 

This was done in nearly 70 counties ; thereby not only were the efforts of this 
Department better supported, but publicity work in each county in behalf of all 
manner of war activities was co-ordinated and advanced. 

The Department was under iron-clad instructions from the chairman of the 
Publicity Committee that its facilities were not to be used to exploit personalities 
or to do "stunts" in behalf of any special interest or particular phase of war 
work. Literal obedience of those instructions is believed to have been achieved, as 

159 



160 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

scrutiny of the complete files of matter sent out by the Department will disclose. 
This restricted the Department opportunities for getting out "snappy stuff," but 
the advantages of this policy in the long run outweighed the disadvantages. 

On November 30, 1917, the Department began the publication of the State 
Council News, the official bulletin or "house organ" of the Council, which was is- 
sued every Friday up to and including December 13, 1918. The News went to 
about 7,500 of the active workers of the Council's various organizations. It car- 
tied advice and instructions to war workers for their guidance in general and 
local work, and news about them. Its purpose was to keep the army of State 
Council war workers throughout the state "on their toes," and not only working, 
but working intelligently and effectively. 

The Department also supervised all printing done for other departments of 
the Council and edited and published the several pamphlets and booklets issued by 
the Council. 

Government Publicity "Pre-Digested" 

Soon after the Department began to function, it became convinced that the 
efficacy of publicity as an adjunct to war effort was seriously impaired by the mass 
of undigested publicity material which newspaper editors were receiving daily 
from United States Government departments, commissions, bureaus and commit- 
tees, and from the war and relief organizations, both public and quasi-public, 
throughout the country. These editors were receiving so much "press matter" 
that literally they had not time to read it all; hence most of it went to the waste 
paper basket. This Department undertook to "pre-digest" all of such matter for 
Illinois editors. As a consequence, it is a conservative statement to say that most 
of the war work publicity from Washington and elsewhere which got into the 
Illinois papers during the last year of the war got there through the service of this 
Department. 

The publicity sent out by the Department included both editorial and news 
articles. It carried information about national, state and local activities of all 
kinds in behalf of the war. In subjects covered it ranged from Army and Navy 
enlistments and Liberty Loans to canning corn, raising potatoes, and weighing 
babies. The controlling idea behind each separate article was that it should be 
ready for immediate use without editing or correction ; all the editor receiving it 
needed to do was to put it in type as it was sent him. But every piece of "copy" 
had some bearing upon the war, and w^as meant to be helpful in stirring the patri- 
otism, increasing the efficiency and maintaining the morale of the public. This 
work is believed to have been effective, because the matter sent out was very 
widely used. 

The work of a publicity department cannot be reduced to conclusive statistics, 
but some general figures may be indicative of what was done by this Department 
tangibly, with the help of one assistant director, one reporter and one stenographer. 

In its weekly and semi-weekly news service (not counting the State Council 
News and supervision of printing), the Department sent out more than 1,000 news 
and editorial articles, every one of which was used in some paper, and most of 
which were used in nearly all the papers of the State. The larger down-State 
weeklies often used four, six and eight pieces of State Council "copy" in one issue. 

The Department also sent out more than 2,000 news articles to Chicago daily 
papers, most of which were used "flat" — as they were written — or we^e made the 
basis of news articles ranging in length from a one-inch paragraph to six and eight 
columns. The Department was also an information bureau for the daily news- 
paper reporters of Chicago — a clearing house for news on all manner of war ac- 
tivities. 

Tremendous Contribution by Newspapers 

The amount of space given to State Council publicity matters by the news- 
papers of the State, if purchased at the lowest possible commercial advertising 
rates, would have cost more than $1,500,000 — $1,000,000 in Chicago papers and 
$500,000 down-State. But the importance of the contribution thus made by the 
newspapers of the State to the Council's work, particularly by "the country 
press," as it is sometimes called, cannot be expressed in dollars. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 161 

In probably 500,000 Illinois homes outside of Chicago and the larger down- 
State cities, only one newspaper is carefully read, and that paper is the local 
weekly or daily. If those homes and the population they represent — considerably 
over one-third of the total — are not reached by "the country press," they are not 
reached at all. In this respect, the value of what the newspapers of Illinois did 
for the war is incalculable. 

A publicity department's effectiveness cannot be asserted in set terms. It can 
be only deduced from collateral evidence. Two bits of such evidence are cited 
with (it is hoped pardonable) pride: 

A war conference of Illinois editors, called by the Publicity Committee of the 
Council, and arranged for by this Department, was held in Chicago on March 9, 
1918. Governor Lowden said it was the largest and most representative gathering 
of Illinois newspaper men he had ever seen. The opinion of many editors cor- 
roborated this. At this conference, the editors of the State were especially asked 
to suggest ways and means of improving this Department's service. Their com- 
posite answer was in effect : "Stick to the way you are doing it." 

The managers of one of the big "drives" for war funds in the fall of 1918 
circularized many Illinois newspaper editors, asking their suggestions on how the 
publicity work for the "drive" should be handled to serve best the purpose being 
promoted, and to secure the utmost of newspaper co-operation. The following 
quotation is a composite reflection of a large number of the answers received : 

"The best publicity material in the United States today, and we get at least 
thirty varieties every morning from many cities and many lines, is gotten out by 
the State Council of Defense headquarters in Chicago. They know what people 
want to read, and they write it briefly. It is ready to go in the paper exactly as 
they issue it, and does not require pruning unless the editor desires. It goes in the 
big Chicago dailies, and it goes in the small country papers. We receive more 
matter than it is possible for us to read, let alone publish. It would require not 
less than two persons all their time working eight hours a day to read the matter 
we receive, let alone handling it in any other way. If all the publicity from all the 
worth-while war work organizations could be centered through one channel, say* 
the State Council of Defense, it would be possible to secure better publicity for all 
concerned." 

Respectfully submitted, 
Bernard J. Mullaney, Director of Publicity. 



APPENDIX IX 

UNIFIED BUREAU OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS 

January 16, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense of Illinois: 

Toward the fall of 1918, it was apparent that there was need of a clearing 
house for public speakers on war topics. Previous tentative steps toward form- 
ing one had come to naught. But increasing conflicts in appointments, the 
assignment of too many speakers to one meeting, and duplication of effort made 
it clear that there should be a central bureau for speakers. Accordingly, the 
State Council of Defense called a meeting of the various war-work organizations 
in Chicago and throughout the state, including the following : 

State Council of Defense 

National Security League 

Hamilton Club 

Union League Club 

Sunday Evening Club 

Y. M. C. A. 

University of Chicago 

Northwestern University 

American Red Cross 

U. S. War Savings Committee 

Liberty Loan 

Four Minute Men 

City Club 

Salvation Army 

State Council of Defense (Woman's Committee) 

Chicago Woman's Club 

Chicago Woman's City Club 

Chicago Association of Commerce 

Selective Service Association 

Committee on Military Afi^airs 

Liberty Loan, Foreign Language Division 

U. S. Food Administration 

U. S. Fuel Administration 

Inter-Church War Work Committee 

District Representative Industrial Education Section 

Speakers' Bureau, United War Work Campaign 

Many of these organizations had speakers bureaus of their own but all 
came to agreement to pool their interests so far as speakers were concerned 
and to cooperate in getting the maximum of service with the minimum of effort 
and expense. 

At the meeting so called, it was determined to form the United Bureau of 
Public Speakers, and a definite plan of organization was formulated by a 
committee appointed at the meeting. Pursuant to the plan so reported, the 
State Council of Defense appointed the following Advisory Committee: 

Henry P. Chandler, Liberty Loan Organization. 

Secor Cunningham, State Council of Defense. 

James C. Jeffery, American Red Cross. 

George R. Jones, Four Minute Men. 

Mrs. Edward H. Taylor, Woman's Committee. 

The Advisory Committee so appointed immediately took up the work of the 
Bureau and appointed Roger Sherman director and David Jamieson manager in 
charge of the assignment of speakers. 

162 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 163 

The purposes, scope and activities of the Bureau were stated in an official 
Bulletin issued by the Bureau; offices were furnished by the State Council of De- 
fense, and the work of the Bureau commenced November 1, 1918. During the 
month speakers were assigned to 741 meetings. In the following month speakers 
were assigned to 389 meetings, and from January 1st to January 15th, 1919, 136 
speakers were assigned. 

The meetings so provided for by the Bureau included patriotic meetings, flag 
raisings, Americanization meetings at various manufacturing and industrial plants 
and meetings at schools, churches and theatres. The speakers assigned included 
such men as Julian Arnold, author and lecturer ; Dr. Amaury Mars, a Frenchman 
who had been held in a German prison for three years and a half and had escaped ; 
Sergeant Sam P. Barre, who had served in the American army for 30 years and 
who had taken part in the hostilities in France, and Lt. Henri Negre of the French 
Army, assigned from Washington under the auspices of the French High Com- 
mission. The speakers assigned by the Bureau also included many business and 
professional men. The meetings to which speakers were assigned were scattered 
throughout the State, most of them, however, being in Chicago and its environs. 

On January 15, 1919, the activities of the Bureau ceased. It was then appar- 
ent that there was no need of the Bureau as a war-working organization and that 
the work of the Bureau could be taken over advantageously by other parties. Ac- 
cordingly, the assets, applications and good-will of the Bureau were turned over 
to the Speakers' Bureau conducted by the Woman's Committee of the State Coun- 
cilof Defense, and the Unified Bureau of Public Speakers as such went out of 
existence. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Roger Sherman, Director. 



APPENDIX X 

THE "FOUR MINUTE MEN" IN ILLINOIS 

May 19th, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

I have the honor of presenting below a report covering the activities of the 
Four Minute Men in the State of Illinois during the war. It is the privilege 
of the writer in presenting this final report to the State Council of Defense to 
speak for the original organization of Four Minute Men in this country and to 
address the report to the first State Council of Defense to give full recognition 
and support to the movement. 

The Four Minute Men movement, which later became an arm of the federal 
war organization, was inaugurated in Chicago in March, 1917, before the 
United States entered the great war. Mr. Donald M. Ryerson, then Vice-Presi- 
dent of Joseph T. Ryerson and Son, was the originator of the movement, although 
it should be said that his decision to undertake the work was the result of a sug- 
gestion from Senator Medill McCormick. The advice and encouragement of 
his friends, Mr. Arthur Cable, Mr. Bruce Smith, and Mr. William McCormick 
Blair (later National Director of the Four Minute Men) also influenced Mr. 
Ryerson in making his decision to go into the work. 

Mr. Ryerson made the first Four-Minute talk ever given one evening in 
the latter part of March at the Strand Theatre, Chicago. At the end of the 
first show a slide was flashed on the screen, and the audience read this strange 
device : 

4 MINUTE MEN 4 

MR. DONALD M. RYERSON 

will speak four minutes on 

UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING 

He is introduced by 
J. Ogden Armour Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen 

Charles Comiskey Otto C. Butz 

Miss Harriett Vittum Dr. Frank W. Gunsaulus 

Bishop Samuel Fallows 

This practical test of the plan satisfied Mr. Ryerson that it should be organ- 
ized and developed as quickly as possible. 

Getting Into Action 

On April 2nd, 1917, therefore, Mr. Ryerson and a group of men met for 
luncheon at the University Club of Chicago, and organized themselves as the 
first Four Minute Men. Mr. Ryerson told the group that the sliadow of war 
was inevitably traveling toward America and that the people of this country 
were utterly unprepared to meet the onslaught of the greatest military power in 
history. A fundamental change of mind was the only thing that could prevent 
a catastrophe. Here was a task which called for a new patriotism, a new 
insight into America's destiny and a new means of arousing the people to the 
great crisis before them. The men at that meeting were ready to take up the 
work Mr. Ryerson had inaugurated at the Strand Theatre. They were to be 
more than the Minute Men of 76, for their part was to awaken a great nation 
— a world power steeped in the policies of peace, to the reality of a world conflict. 

The meeting decided that the first message that the Four Minute Men 
would bring to the people was the necessity for national preparedness, involving 

164 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 165 

the immediate acceptance of the principle of Universal Military Training. This 
program was enthusiastically endorsed. An office was located in one of the 
rooms of the University Club and a committee appointed to arrange a schedule 
of Four Minute talks at the motion picture theatres. 

The first officers of the Four Minute Men were : 

Donald M. Ryerson, President. 

Stephen Gardner, Treasurer. 

George R. Jones. Secretary. 

Keith J. Evans, Assistant Secretary. 

From the very first the project grew by leaps and bounds. Luncheon meet- 
ings were held almost daily at the University Club from that time on. The 
speakers, now augmented constantly by new recruits, were given facts on which 
to model their speeches, and the Four Minute Men were soon playing the role 
of a modern Paul Revere calling the nation to arms. 

The New Work Nationalized 

By the time that this country entered the war the Four Minute Men who 
then composed its roster were already beginning to exert a powerful influence 
in favor of the Chamberlain Bill for Universal Military Training. People at 
the picture theatres, relaxed from their daily toil, found food for thought in the 
earnest words of the Four Minute Man as he told them of the urgency of action 
in the grave crisis which the nation faced. But the declaration of vyar by this 
country against Germany put a sudden stop to the work of the Four Minute Men ; 
word came from Washington that the Chamberlain Bill was to be dropped and 
another substituted for it which called for "Universal Selective Service," known 
afterward as the "Draft." Mr. Ryerson's plan now either had to be changed, or 
given up, for the original conception of the Four Minute Men was that of a body 
of citizens drawn from all walks of life, creating public opinion by giving the 
view of the "man on the street" and securing thereby a quickened public con- 
science and more responsive public action. He had now to take his choice 
between Senator Chamberlain's program for national preparedness and the Gov- 
ernment's war measure for raising an emergency army. Mr. Ryerson was 
unwilling to press the Chamberlain Bill in opposition to the new measure, and, 
in fact, felt that the new bill might be preferable as a war measure to the Cham- 
berlain Bill. A meeting of all Four Minute Men was therefore hurriedly called 
on April 9th to discuss the matter. That meeting prevailed upon Mr. Ryerson 
to proceed to Washington and lay before the government his publicity scheme, 
with the recommendation that the government sponsor it and take it over as a 
war agency by which the administration's policies on war questions could be 
announced and explained to the people. Mr. Ryerson, with characteristic deci- 
sion, took the first train to Washington, and on April 20th, 1917, sent the follow- 
ing wire to the Chicago organization : 

"Have written arrangements with Creel for organization on national 

basis on lines of our talk subject censorship from his office. First 

subject Universal Selective Service." 

Upon receipt of this telegram giving the Four Minute Men official standing 
under the Committee on Public Information, work for the Four Minute Men 
started in earnest. The Chicago organization was to become the nucleus of a 
national organization and plans were feverishly rushed to spread the Four Minute 
gospel through the land. 

"Made in Chicago" 

From that time on the words and acts of the Four Minute Men had the 
stamp of official sanction on them. It is interesting to note that the first 
bulletin sent to the Four Minute Men after the government sponsored the move- 
ment was an ideal Four Minute speech on the new government "draft" measure. 
Mr. Charles R. Folds, (later Chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee in 
Chicago) and Mr. Peter Junkersfeld (later Colonel Junkersfeld) assisted in 
writing this first bulletin, but the final speech adopted to be sent out broadcast 
as Bulletin No. 1 was written by Mr. Waldo P. Warren of Chicago, who later 
was called to Washington to write other bulletins of the Four Minute Men. 



166 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

This bulletin was telegraphed verbatim to Mr. Creel, Chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Public Information, for his O.K., and his characteristic answer was : 
"Splendid talk. Approve every word of it. Go ahead." The standard slide 
used by all Four Minute Men was now changed to read : 

(Donald M. Ryerson) 

will speak four minutes on 

UNIVERSAL SELECTIVE SERVICE 

He speaks by authority of 

THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION 

Members : 

The Secretary of War 
The Secretary of State 
The Secretary of the Navy 
Mr. George Creel, Chairman 

The stage was now set, the idea had been proven practical, and it devolved 
upon the men in the Chicago organization to work out a plan for a national 
organization in the shortest possible time. First, the Chicago organization itself 
had to be put upon a permanent basis. 

Mr. Ryerson had gone to Mr. Samuel Insull of Chicago (in a short time 
to be Chairman of the Illinois State Council of Defense) at the very outset and 
laid his plan of a Four Minute Men organization before him. Mr. Insull had 
immediately discerned the great possibilities of the movement and given Mr. 
Ryerson practical encouragement in the development of his plan. Mr. Insull 
now invited the Four Minute Men to take up offices in the Edison Building, and 
accordingly the organization was moved about the middle of April from the 
University Club to that building. 

On April 28th, 1917, a state charter was taken out making the Four Minute 
Men an Illinois corporation "not for profit" ; its name and the now famous 
design having previously been copyrighted. 

Organization Rapidly Extended 

Meanwhile Mr. Ryerson haa Deen urged by Mr. Creel to make as much speed 
as possible in organizing the movement nationally, as a result of which he now 
went to New York to establish headquarters there. Mr. Ryerson appointed a 
Vice-Chairman in charge of a large section of the eastern states, with head- 
quarters in New York. He then arranged for a Four Minute Men organization 
under Mr. Donald R. Cotton of St. Paul as Vice-President, to cover the north- 
western states. 

The country was now at war and the sinews had to be supplied. A great 
bond issue, dwarfing any similar undertaking ever thought of in this country, 
was about to be launched, and the first opportunity of the Four Minute Men 
to show their mettle was at hand. The whole future of the prosecution of the 
war depended upon the successful sale of the first issue of two billion dollars of 
Liberty Bonds, and the heads of the federal reserve banks who had the floatation 
of the bonds in charge welcomed the prospect of help from this new national 
organization of public speakers. 

Mr. Ryerson having obtained the endorsement of Secretary McAdoo, 
started in to cooperate actively with the heads of the various federal reserve 
districts. In this work he was assisted by Mr. Henry Atwater of Chicago 
(later Assistant National Director in Washington, and still later Director of 
Distribution of the Committee on Public Information). Four Minute Men 
chairmen were now placed in charge of territories corresponding with the federal 
reserve districts, Mr. George R. Jones having the Seventh District, in which 
most of the State of Illinois is located. A standard plen of operation describ- 
ing how to form new city and county organizations was adopted and sent broad- 
cast throughout the country. 

Motion Picture Theatres Help 

The chief asset, of course, of the Four Minute Men, aside from the 
unbounded enthusiasm of its members for contributing their share in the nation's 
crisis, was the great forum which the organization commanded, namely, the cos- 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 167 

mopolitan American audiences which grouped together, representing eight to 
twelve million people every night, in the motion picture theatres. The move- 
ment never could have been a success without the spontaneous cordial coopera- 
tion of the big figures in the motion picture industry. Messrs. Brady and Zukor 
in New York, and Messrs. Ascher and Schaefer in Chicago, were quick to see 
the great patriotic service they might do the nation by giving the movement their 
personal support. The whole industry fell in behind them, and almost from 
the first the Four Minute Men plan had the cooperation of every exhibitor in the 
country. It was one of the outstanding facts in the history of the organization, 
and one of the most gratifying, that this support was forthcoming without delay 
and with practical unanimity in the motion picture world. Of course it carried 
some advantages to the motion picture theatres themselves in that by granting 
the exclusive privilege of their stage to the Four Minute Men during the war 
they were protecting themselves from scores of unreasonable demands which 
might be made upon them, from a multiplicity of so-called "patriotic" organi- 
zations or individuals of good, bad and indifi^erent character. 

The actual plan of cooperation with the motion picture theatres in Illinois 
was arranged through Mr. Joseph Hopp, Chairman of the Executive Commit- 
tee of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, who became later 
a member of both the Executive Board of the Illinois organization, and of the 
Chicago organization. From the very beginning Mr. Hopp worked with a 
devotion to the cause without which the Chicago and Illinois organizations never 
could have carried through their program with the necessary speed and effective- 
ness. 

Four Minute Men Win Spurs 

The First Liberty Loan was a triumph for the American cause. Without 
this success it would have been hard to go on with the war. The results of the 
part played by the Four Minute Men demonstrated the value of that organiza- 
tion to the federal government, and stamped it as being, without question, one 
of the important war agencies. The departments of the government and the 
newly created war bodies, seeing the tremendous advertising value of the Four 
Minute Men, began to clamor for their services. And so it happened that no 
sooner had the Four Minute Men finished with their Liberty Loan job than 
their services were requisitioned elsewhere. 

The American Red Cross had an international reputation for efficiency and 
accomplishment, but a relatively small membership as compared with that of 
other great nations. The outbreak of the war, of course, increased its respon- 
sibilities a thousand fold. It was the only organization which could shoulder the 
great humanitarian tasks which the conflict involved. To tell the people of the 
part the American Red Cross was to play in the war and to enlist their support 
for its tremendous program, was the next duty of the Four Minute Men. It 
was even a more thankful task than the work for the Liberty Loan because 
the speaker could appeal to the emotions of the great masses of the people 
without departing from the actual record which made up the splendid history 
of the Red Cross organization. The speakers set to work with a vim, and the 
campaign was so well handled and terminated with such unquestioned success 
that the effectiveness of their work was gratefully acknowledged by H. P. 
Davidson, Chairman of the Red Cross War Council ; Mr. Davidson, in fact, 
was one of the first men of national prominence to see the value of the Four 
Minute Men organization. 

With a brilliant record for service to their credit in the First Liberty Loan 
and the Red Cross campaign, it was no more a matter of doubt that the Four 
Minute Men were organized on a sound basis and were ready for even more 
important national war work. It was at this point that the central figure in the 
Four Minute Men, Donald M. Ryerson, left the organization. The time had 
now come when Mr. Ryerson believed it his duty to enter the Navy. At the out- 
break of the war he had given it as his intention to fit up a fast boat for coast 
patrol duty and present it to the government. He now proceeded to carry this 
plan into effect. He himself had enlisted in the Navy. In spite of efforts on the 
part of Mr. Creel and all connected with the new national movement to per- 
suade him to remain, Mr. Ryerson insisted upon maintaining his purpose. 
Before he actually left for Annapolis, however, he went to Washington, at 



168 STATE COUNCIL OP DEFENSE 

Mr. Creel's request, to establish the national headquarters of the Four Minute 
Men in the office of the Committee on Public Information and to proceed to 
carry out the organization of the movement on the plan which had now been 
proven successful. 

Building Up the Organization 

With Mr. Ryerson went Mr. Henry Atwater, as his assistant, and Mr. 
Keith Evans, who became the Business Manager for the national organization. 
Mr. Ryerson remained in Washington only long enough to see his general 
scheme for pushing the national organization to completion approved, and then 
proceeded to Annapolis to attend the Officers' Training School of the Navy. 
Before he left he induced his friend, Mr. William McCormick Blair of Chi- 
cago, to take up the work as National Director of the Four Minute Men in 
Washington, which position Mr. Blair held with signal ability until August, 
1918, when he left to join the Officers' Artillery Camp at Louisville, Kentucky. 
The success of the Four Minute Men nationally was due quite as much to 
Mr. Blair's ability as to Mr. Ryerson's foresight, because as National Director 
it was his responsibility to build up the institution from a few scattered but 
enthusiastic groups, to a vast network of organizations, comprehending every 
state in the Union and every territory, with headquarters in every city and 
county and with local units in almost every hamlet in the land. 

After Mr. Ryerson's departure the Chicago organization of Four Minute 
Men met and elected permanent officers as follows : 

George R. Jones, Chairman. 

Ernest Palmer, Vice-Chairman. 

Louis W. Mack, Secretary. 

Stephen Gardner, Treasurer. 

An Executive Board was elected to conduct the afifairs of the Four Minute 
Men, not only in Chicago, but throughout the Seventh Federal Reserve Dis- 
trict, as follows : 

Harry J. Dunbaugh Bertram G. Nelson 

Stephen Gardner Ernest Palmer 

Joseph Hopp William G. Sage 

James C. Jefifery Frederic Ullman 

George R. Jones Waldo P. Warren 

Louis W. Mack Donald M. Wood 

Henry G. Miller 

State Council Co-operation 

At a conference between Mr. Samuel Insull, Chairman of the State Council 
of Defense, and Messrs. Ryerson, Blair and Jones, just prior to Mr. Ryerson's 
departure, an arrangement was made for complete cooperation between the State 
Council of Defense and the Four Minute Men in Illinois. This arrangement 
existed till the end of the war. The State Council of Defense provided offices 
for the main headquarters of the Four Minute Men in Illinois and paid the 
expenses of its maintenance. The Four Minute Men, on the other hand, pledged 
themselves to support and encourage the work of the State Council in Illinois 
and to lend their assistance whenever possible. That this plan worked out 
with entire success was proven many times later. It was evident in the com- 
plete cooperation between the local Speakers' Bureaus of the State Council of 
Defense, and the local Four Minute Men Chairmen, both activities often being 
identical, with the same Chairmen and personnel. It was evident when the 
State Council gave its official stamp of approval to many public functions under- 
taken by the Four Minute Men, and it was evident when the Four Minute Men 
in their turn gave publicity to the State Council's great patriotic meetings or 
exhibits, such as the War Exposition, to an extent which it could not otherwise 
have enjoyed. 

On June 6th Mr. Jones, upon instructions from Washington, visited Kansas 
City, Missouri, and established Four Minute Men headquarters there with the 
Mayor of the city as Chairman. A few weeks later a trip was made to Louis- 
ville, Nashville, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Detroit for the purpose of report- 
ing to Washington on the results being accomplished in those places. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 169 

The Chicago organization was fortunate in commanding the services of 
some of the very ablest of the younger set of business and professional men o 
the cty. The admmistrative side of the work was of great importance because 
on ,t depended the whole scheme for a smooth working schedule of publ c 
speeches. Any senous defect in the management of the organization would Save 
made it impossible to attract and hold in its membership speakers of S 
caliber. More than any other thing the military spirit which was presenfin he 
organization from the start was responsible for its success. Every man con- 
nected with the executive side of the work was actuated by this sense ormilitarv 
discipline and carried out his orders accordingly. military 

Drafted by Hoover 

The affairs of the organization were conducted through an Executive Board 
which in turn resolved itself into committees and apportioned "he varbus execu 
tive functions to these committees, the chief of which were 

Speakers Committee Frnpcf Poltn«,- ru • 

Tbpatrp r^.nmjff^^ ~..ii.rnest Maimer, Chairman 

theatre Conmiittee Donald M. Wood, Chairman 

Admissions Committee James C. Jeffrey! Chaii 



irman 



public funrtionO ^5°"^,^-^ Luncheon Meetings (later on to become well known 
?ated for tbi nl t- " f- "^'^^^'' ^"^ ^^^P^cted to come had been inaugu- 
rated for the instruction and inspiration of the speakers of the Four Minute Men 
organization. During the early days the luncheons were held "n X Empire 

iSrm°enl'h^''"^ ^'".f '^ "°'''- ^l"' "'^^*'"S^ ^^^ ^'-^^^ addr ssed by prom! 
inent men who were authorities on the sub ect matter which was beine currentlv 

al7rJd\l'llr!rc''lT ""l-r^' these luncheons Prof'Sors'llomTH" 

newlro'f dererSg^a p'J.t^Min'ute^^^^^^^^^^^ ^"^^^'^^ ^^^ -" '" '^^ 

Mr "HLbeT Hoover m'^P'Tt?^ '^^ F^'- ^'""^^ ^^^ ^ad now closed, and 
frLt? ?.u S -k;- ^''*'??^^ ^°°^ Administrator, who had watched the 
growth of the Four Minute Men with great interest. r;quisitioned their services 
for carrying the message to the people that Food Conservation was the funda 
mental essential in winning the war. By this time the Four MiS Men were 
beginning to attract the attention of all classes of people and he forthcomrni 

Lu els"to ;heir'''''k^""^r '\ ^^^^'"^- "Food CoLervation'^rougirnew 
laurels to their work for its authentic and comprehensive information The 
National Director suggested that the week July 8th to 14th be nam?d ''National 
Food Conservation Week," and Mr. Hoover enthusiastically seconded this reques 
m a letter to all Four Minute Men throughout the country ^ 

h.ri V"^ ^^" """^^^ "T,^'^^ ^¥ Four Minute Men were being organized nationally 

Danvnii' f"Tv'^ LaSalle Moline 

Decatur Kankakee Lincoln Springfield 

uecatur LaGrange Johet Waukegan 

War Issues Presented 

nb.J""^ "^i"^ l'^^ ^^^^^^ /° ^^^ P^°P'^ to save food, a new and very important 

phase of educational work was undertaken through the national headauarter. 

This was the adoption of a broad policy inaugurating an edSfonal purpose 7" 

the work of the organization with a view to discussing before thrArnericanneo 

tt'is"u?sVfThfwlr'°Th Vr^t";^ and in the most striking iZ t^TcZZlZ 

app.r??:°^;^1.rWe/^^ 

Arms, was issued on August 6th 1917 .^^'i/. ineiNationin 



170 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



..ect from the mass of facts availaMe ^^^l,^ ^JZ^S^^^^^ 

L^,^i?;o^r:;ft;ror^^^^^^^ -^^-^ ^^^ --^ °^ ^--- 

ality essential to, any speech, long or short ^^^^^^^^ 

By August the new ^P\'!^'f'^Z'h^,ltorse^^^^^^ 
days when it was sorely needed had won th^^^th^proportion of a young giant 
knownmenandof big organizations and grown t^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^_ 

among speaking o^g^'^l^^^'^f^- /^V on^er Leded Nevert^^ it was a great 

ognition came freely when it ^^^ "<^/°"-'=f t"^Xr of Commerce of the United 
hdp to the Four Minute .^en when the Chamber ot U ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ .^^ ^^^^^_ 

States published and ^.fV-^^^^^^A^^ H^^^^^ Four Minute Men move- 

Tntrnd L^inrlortlhette'ra^JoVof all commercial bodies in the country. 

Two More Notable Campaigns 

In August, 1917, in line with the ^^j^s^:::;:^z^:rZ^ 

underlying issues of the war, t^ 7 f^^^f^^? entitled "What Our Enerny 

by the Four Mmute Men ihe b"'^f ^"A^JT':„„„^„ " Each dealt with the 

g^ally Is" fdp,;U--^^^^^^^^^ 

f^^'^^^gton'^^^^^^sSrhim in getting out the bulletins. Mr^ E^ T. Gu^d^ 

lach, who, though of German ancestry and a great^s^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ 

was a thorough American,_ and was theretore q ernment. From all 

understanding subjects bearmg on he Gerimn system g^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ 

over the state reports came m of the g^at ettect ^^^^^^ autocratic 

understandable explanation byt^^^^^^^k'ngofthe system whereby the German 
system of government and ^he unmasking or ty throughout the world 

and the picture going public in Particular, i ne ^} ^ j^g^^ ^en with 

upon as long haired o^^^^^rs, or seekers of the hmeli h ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ 

a tremendous "^>s^l°".^';'d.j/^^„7,'oncern o tl e s?T.all but zealous membership 
the Chicago organization the °"%^^°"^^''J„°ie movement. Almost anyone who 
was to get more and more ^^^l'^''' ^J^^^^^^^^^ open arms and without 

posed as a speaker was admitted t° the organization w v^^ Admissions Corn- 
question. Things now began to ^^l^f^^^/,"/;'^'^^^^^ of those who wanted 
mittee, whose duty it ^^^^n'' annoCced that no one would be admitted to 
::;errSSp'irtlie^oV^^^^^^ X d? lot have Previo- ^n^ P^nbhc 

Setlnd^dt^onllrr tTef^^^^^^^^^^ - -^^^ ^ ^ 

Four-Minute talk. t^^ttpr of sneaker's qualifications 

The Speakers: Committee takmg up the matter ^o^f ^^pea^ ,^^\,,,,,,^- 

where the Admissions Committee len on, ^ ■ ■ -phe system was based 

the effectiveness of each i^ember in the ^fl^^ll^''^^^^^^ /hese reports fur- 
on periodical reports concernmg the work of ev^^^^^ ^^ 

nished for the Assignment Committee the requ ^^^^ speaker's . voice 

class of theatre each man should ^e assignee ^^^^^^ ^^^^^j^^ ^^ the 

fitted a large or small, house, anf whether he wou ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ 

downtown district or in the onjymg ^_^o re_^gn ^^^^ ^ ^^,,,,^> they were 

found to be unequal to the task o: geiu g 

dropped from the organization. required standard, 

It was found that many speakers ^eH ]ust short ot me q ^^^ 

and needed but slight instruction or |"^dancen order to qu J ^^^^j^^^^ 
benefit of those "fibers a Speakers School wa^ju.^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ 

under Mr. John J. Peckham and drectea oy ^^^^ ^^ ^ 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 171 

Ready for Second Liberty Loan 

The Second Liberty Loan of three billions found the Four Minute Men al- 
ready grown into a national army of 11,000 public speakers. The tremendous task 
ot assisting m the sale of three billions in bonds was put up to every Four Minute 
Men Chairman in the country by a personal telegram from Wm. G. McAdoo Sec- 
retary of the Treasury. The telegram was couched in words that filled every 
i^our Minute Man with pride and determination to make good for his own or- 
ganization and tor the Liberty Loan. It read : 

"The Four Minute Men are a mighty and potential influence in the 
success of the Liberty Loan. They did an immensely valuable and patri- 
otic service in the first Liberty Loan, and I count with genuine satisfaction 
upon their enthusiastic support and service in placing the Second Liberty 
Loan. Cjrod speed every Four Minute Man in this noble work. 

"Wm. G. McAdoo." 
The time was tense for patriotic effort, and the faith shown by the adminis- 
tration III the work of the Four Minute Men spurred them to plan for the Second 
Liberty Loan the most aggresiye campaign that had yet been undertaken. Under 
Mr. Henry P. Chandler of Chicago a special committee, thereafter known as the 
Liberty Loan Theatre Committee, arranged for speeches in every downtown thea- 
tre in Chicago every night in the week during the period of the Loan. The number 
of speeches given in outlying motion picture theatres was also increased and the 
Four Minute Men were expected to answer the call of the Liberty Loan organiza- 
tion for speeches at factories and public gatherings of every kind. The same spirit 
^rtlJ f p' °'Ar 0'-§^";^at,ons throughout the whole state. In the majori y o 
cases the Four Minute Men Chairmen were also Chairmen of the Liberty Loan 
bpeaking Bureaus. -^ 

2fifi SflTfnfT^'^fl''^!,^'' ^''°"^ y^^'^y L°=^" Campaign was credited with 
dbb talks, and the total audiences numbered 833,000. 

. The floatation of the loan was a success and the Four Minute Men were 
given no small credit for the part they had played. The Second Libertv Loan 
Campaign was notable for marking the completion of the plan to orgaSze the 
work of the Four Minute Men in every state and territory in the Union 
Tnninf r^^ Pledge Week during which the Four Minute Men asked 22,000 house- 
holds to support the food conservation plan of the government followed the Second 
Liberty Loan Campaign. The Four Minute Men found the people ready to re 
spond to every suggestion of the Food Administration and the American policy 
a°V7tl"m^:7rarifin;^rd^^°'"^^"^ '''''''' ^'-^ ^°"'^ ^^ ^^ hoped1o"r7r'S.^ 

Recognized by the President 
.ffl.in'^?^,'^"""? this campaign that President Wilson took occasion to reco-nize 

kner wr tl'iXlm f"' uT ^T' ^^? °^ *^ United States. The following 
letter written by him to all Four Minute Men was perhaps the greatest one thine 

follows? ^ '""^ importance of the organization there^after His lette? 

"^^Jl'f ^'f *"-''' Thousand Four Minute Men of the United States- 

May 1 not express my very real interest in the vigorous and intelli- 

rPuTc In^^"' °':?^"f nr " ^?'"^ ^" '^^^^^^^^^ ->^h the Commit e 
on Public Information? It is surely a matter worthy of sincere apprecia- 

rl^TJl^' ^ Y^ °* thoughtful citizens, with the hearty co-operation of the 

Ss^sion°ofZ:n^ P^''"'' 'Y""''''' ""'' ^"^^S^d '" *^ presentation anS 
discussion of the purposes and measures of these critical days 

Men and nations are at their worst or at their best in any great strug- 
gle. The spoken word may light the fires of passion and unreason or it 
may inspire to highest action and noblest sacrifice a nation of freemen 
Upon you Four Minute Men, who are charged with a special dutv and 
enjoy a special privilege in the command of your audiences! wi 1 res^ in a 
considerable degree the task of arousing and informing the gTeat body of 
our people so that when the record of these days is complete we shaH read 
page for page with the deeds of army and navj the story of The un' ty the 



^72 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

"WooDROW Wilson. 
On October 19th 1917, Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy and a mem- 
her o%^^?o^i^e on Piblic^nfor^ 
public meetmg under the auspices of the Fc^^urMinute^M^^^^^ „ 

in Chicago. His address was entitled Jl^^j/°"[^^Xu te Men that their work 
Secretary Daniels brought official word to the ^^'l" .^^T^^^ Navy of the 

was highly appreciated by the Adminis rat^^^^^ war and great n rest wJs there- 
United States had done all of our fig^^ing in the war a a g e development 

ttn S^!rJ^^:^^:n^^^lXi^^^ already had to its credit. 

Organization Grows in Illinois 

devdoping as a fixed policy that a place on that program was to be had only by 
government departments, war agencies or bureaus. , Meetincr of the 

On November 19th 1917, took place the first Get-iogether ivieetm^-, oi i-^ 

"""'in November the Four Minute Men spoke for the great ijcreation organiza- 
\m«ican Library AssocS.ion, etc., etc. The campaign was e„.,.led "Ma.rita.nmg 

''°" h De«le7lhe"Fou; Wnuie Men were again given the privilege of bringing 

SLlSSC^n^i^ToKK^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

thS t^ Red Cross membership was brought to the immense figure of 30,000,000 

"'""Na'tional Director Blair on December 17th announced the formation of a 
Nati^nlrAlSrfcouncil of tl.eJour Minute Mgi. ^oii.^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Mr.^ Samuel 
Hopkins Adams, Professor S. ^^C^ark M . Wm^H^ i .^^^^ ^.^^^ ^^ ^^^.^ ^^^, 

Ingersoll, laler succeeded Mr. Blair as National Director. 
More Work for Uncle Sam 
Meanwhile the Treasury Department had brought out the ^yar Savings 
States of the United States'^ Government. These stamps were designed partic- 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 173 

ularly to appeal to the small investor who was not able to purchase bonds No 
special tune was set aside to campaign for War Savings Stamps, but a continuous 
effort was made to keep up the interest of the people in this attractive and sound 
plan by which they could now invest their savings. The Four Minute Men were 
asked by the Treasury Department to campaign nationally in the interest of selling 
these stanips. The three weeks devoted to the work were fruitful in creating 
widespread publicity and a very large direct sale throughout the country 

Meanwhile the work of the Four Minute Men all through the state had grown 
to such large proportions that it was thought best to ask the Chairmen to nieet in 
conference in Chicago in conjunction with the State Council of Defense to discuss 
?1^"^ for carrying on the work more vigorously than ever. Therefore the Four 
Minute Men throughout the state were called to attend a War Conference to be 
held at the Morrison Hotel on January 14th and 15th. A never-to-be-forgotteil 
snowstorm and blizzard, accompanied by extremely cold weather, arrived the 
night before the conference and tied up transportation all over the state so that 
on]y a few Chairmen were able to attend the conference. 

Toward the latter part of January, 1918, the Four Minute Men were enlisted 
in the service of the United States Shipping Board to help interest the public in the 
great program of constructing a "Bridge of Ships" from this country to France 
It was necessary to create a strong public opinion before the prospective ship- 
builder would teel any moral pressure to leave his work and family and enlist at 
one of the ship yards. The title of the campaign was "The Man of the Hour-The 
Shipbuilder The Four M mute Men did great work in putting thousands of men 
on the United States Public Service Reserve list for later call to the ship yards 
It was signihcant hat lUinois, where the Four Minute Men movement was first 
builders ^^^ ^"'^ '^^^^ ^° complete its quota of enlisted ship- 

In February the Four Minute Men worked for the Navy. Assistant Secretary 
of the Navy Franklin D Roosevelt asked the help of the Four Minute Men in 
securing widespread publicity for the request of the Navy for field glasses and 
binoculars-for Eyes, in other words, to see the periscopes of the lurking enemy, 
ihe Navy was arming and manning merchant ships as well as scores of new 
S.TJf/"'^ ""'I'Vu^', 'r the Navy, and there was no available supply of 
oi^tical glasses which had formerly been largely exported from enemy coun- 
tries, i o meet this need people everywhere were asked to loan their glasses 
Ihe result was that at the request of the Illinois army of Four Minute Men tele- 
scopes, spy glasses and instruments poured into the State Council of Defense 
Washingtti.'''''' registering and shipment to the Navy Department in 

Propaganda Program Adopted 

N.vv" nl%u ?v k^m!?'^^'^ .';^'"i!f' °^'"'^ campaigns as "The Eyes of the 
Navy, or The Shipbuilder-the Man of the Hour" in which direct and imme- 

za?on7h."rtLT' ^m"''''^'a^'"' ^^' ^ '^'^"^ ^^^''"g '" the Chicago organi- 
zation that the Four Minute Men were most valuable to the nation in propa- 
ganda work, pure and simple. Mr. Henry Chandler, Secretary, made this po^nt 
very plain in a written recommendation in which he a;gued for a definite program 
for the national organization. He urged a program of explanation and difcus" 
Mr" 'chLT"' ^^ ^^"'^^tional campaigns, of all the vital issues behind the war. 
^d in ?ur1 sent'T'r'".'^"';°" was adopted by the Chicago Executive Board 
f^J^ u -fu: Z Washington, and as a result he was called to Washington 
to consult with headquarters concerning his ideas. 

arv ^Rth^iq'/f "Jn.^'.f Z"*'?^'" °t^ ^^' succeeding bulletin which appeared Febru- 
ary 18th 1918, entitled "The Danger to Democracy." The bulletin set forth 
m a sriking and logical way the plan of Germany on the one hand to get a 
strange hold on the eastern continent through her scheme to control Mi ttel 

menace' called fo^^on'"'' ''\'''i preservation on the other hand which thf 
menace called for on our part. Every speaker in the country was furnished 
with a slide containing a black and white map showing the Mittel Europa nan 
n?,hr I' r, '""^trating his talk. This bulletinVas one of the best buHetfns eve; 
publ^hed by the organization, and set a new standard for future bulletins 

7 JY'u"\^°™s °^ propaganda work that had been set on foot in this 
country had by this time been developed to a marvelous degree! PubHc opinion 



J 74 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

was concentrated on one subject after another and waves of popular sentiment 
f /?n thi. wpv sent across the country from ocean to ocean. The program 
^f'tL^Fou \TS::t?Men"urually kept tinfe with these national Propaganda^cam 
oaisris • in fact it gradually came about that the campaigns of the Four Mmute 
Men we"e looked upon as setting the pace for all national propaganda activities. 
Tt was a favorite form of expression adopted by the heads of the various war 
bureaur to publisl broadcast that success in their particular endeavor would win 
the war and so on all sides was heard the slogan that "ships will win the war 
or'tlTat " f ood will win the war." In its reverse form the ^at^^ment wa bab y 

true of any one of the country's great war activities. Lack of food for example 
would lose the war, or lack of ships or lack of coal. 

Certain it is that one of the most serious questions and one that was most 
amen'i.lkTolntemgent propaganda was the need [orsysi.rajX.cs^^^^^^^^^ h 
Ampriran oeonle of food, a matter in which we as a nation had been m me 
^avs before the war wasteful in the extreme. In March therefore the Four 
Mhiute Men again took up the subject of Food and not only warned the people 
of the neceiity of continued saving but urged the forestalling of a possible food 
shortage from the angle of increased production through the maximum planting 
of farms and gardens. 

Canadian Veterans Utilized 

Shortly after this Mj". Blair announced an arrangement with the Canadian 
Governrent whereby veteran Canadian fighters home on "leave would be 
assigned^?" thlPour Minute Men in the United States for assis ing in war pub- 
He v work At the regular Monday luncheon meeting of the Chicago organiza- 
tiSAdd March 20th, f918, the Four Minute Men were honored by the presence 
of Major Carson McCormack who had been through this arrangement loaned 
?o the organization by the Canadian government. Major McCormack was a 
yout Can^Xn officer'^who had gone over with the first Canadian contingent and 
Co that time had been in all the great Canadian 'shows" on the Western Front 
His presence in Chicago and particularly by his vivid description of actual 
modern warfare created great enthusiasm. 

The Chicago Four Minute Men had become so well organized, due to the 
efficient system of committees and the work in other parts of the state was grow- 
hig so rap dly that the State Chairman decided it was for the best interest ,ot 
h! o?gInizatLn in Illinois to divorce the offices of State Chairman and Chair- 
man of the Chicago organization. A Chicago Chairman under whom the work 
S that city would be conducted, was therefore appointed. For this office there 
was but one choice-Mr. Ernest Palmer, Vice Chairman of the state orgamza- 
Ln, who had also been Chairman of the Speaking Committee (the most impor- 
tant committee of the organization) from the beginning. The selection of Mr. 
Pr/mer wa a very popular one, in that he combined in a very striking way 
excStioiTal ability in public speaking as well as exceptional executive ability. 
The S ate Chairman's duties thereafter were to supervise the work of city and 
county organizations throughout the state. With Major McCormack the State 
Cha"rmrn made a tour of the state in April, 1918, to work up enthusiasm for 
the f3 Minute Men Movement. Public meetings were held in Danvilk 
Decatur, Springfield, East St. Louis, Peoria, Moline. Rock Island Streator and 
Rockford. The work being carried on in those cities was found to be develop- 
ing in a vigorous way, and the Four Minute Men were becommg a power in the 
various communities. At a time when the Germans were carrying everything 
before them, Major McCormack brought to his audiences a note of absolutely 
confident optimism, and he was acclaimed everywhere with great enthusiasm. 

If the Four Minute Men had become an influence in national affairs it was 
lareelv because of the "ready made" audiences which were provided for them 
by^the Motron Picture Theatre Industry. Up to this time the Four Minute 
Men had had all the credit and the Theatre Managers none^ but justice wab 
now more than done them through a public letter to all the Theatre Managers 
from President Wilson expressing the appreciation of the government for the 
splendid cooperation which the motion picture theatres had shown to the l^our 
Minute Men organization. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 175 

Income Tax Explained 

Congress meantime had passed a law calling for an immense new Income 
lax which brought withm its scope hundreds of thousands of people who 
previously had never paid an income tax. The whole matter in its working out 
was very complicated, and it was desirable that the people should be told about 
the tax and made to understand it in the shortest possible time. Julius Smietanka, 
Internal Revenue Collector in Chicago, took the matter up with the State Chair- 
man and asked if the Four Minute Men could not come to his aid in Chicago 
by explaining this important legislation. There was very little time at his dis- 
posal to inform the people of its provisions, and the Four Minute Men were 
the best medium to undertake the work. It was his opinion that the people should 
be told how much more the rich man was being called upon to pay toward the 
support of the war than the poor man. On the recommendation of the Illinois 
organization the National Director in Washington decided to conduct a national 
campaign on the matter and it proved to be one of the most interesting and 
valuable that the Four Minute Men had undertaken. Mr. Oscar Nelson Vice 
Fresident of the Chicago Federation of Labor, stated later at a luncheon 'meet- 
ing of the Four Minute Men in Chicago that that one campaign had done enough 
good in proving to poor people that the war was not a Vich man's war to 
justity all the expense and energy put into the Four Minute Men movement 

High water mark was again reached in April, when the Third Liberty Loan 
was opened to the public. The Loan started for the Four Minute Men on 
April 6th a week ahead of the actual sale of the bonds. The work was in 
charge of the Liberty Loan Theatre Committee, with Mr. Henry G Miller as 
Chicago Chairman; Mr. Henry P. Chandler, his predecessor, having' been hon- 
ored by being mvited to conduct the Speakers' Bureau for the Seventh Federal 
Reserve Liberty Loan. The Four Minute Men went into this intensive cam- 
paign with the same spirit that characterized their previous work for the 
i reasury Department. Speeches were made in every theatre downtown every 
M?n nurJJberedT678T75^ "^"^^ ^^^ audiences addressed by Four Minute 

T .7''ioif ^%*. ^^°''*, °^ ^^^ ^^^ ^•■°'' t° ^a^se funds was made in May and 
June, 1918 Its goal was one hundred million dollars, and one hundred and 
seventy-eight millions was raised. The Four Minute Men numbering now thirty 
thousand speakers took an active part in the raising of this vast humanitarian 
relief fund which represented the greatest outpouring of money for charitable 
purposes in history. t =. y '■^^ 

The machinery of the Four Minute Men organization had by this time been 
worked out so carefully by the Washington authorities and by the local units 
that the work of assigning 30,000 Four Minute Men, tabulating the reports of 
their speeches tabulating the numbers in audiences, and getting all this infor- 
mation upon the records at Washington, went along with comparative smoothness. 

Personal Recognition Extended 

An arrangement was now made whereby Local Chairmen who had been in 
charge of their organization throughout two Four Minute Men campaigns and 
who were handling their organizations efficiently and were willing to continue 
the work until the end of the war, were granted commissions from the govern- 
ment, ,J:>y and with the advice and consent of the President of the United 
states. Ihese commissions bearing as they did the stamp of authority and 
approval of the government made it easier for the State Chairman to obtain 
high class men as Local Chairmen and reinforced the feeling of pride that exist- 
ing Chairmen had m their work. To this privelege was also added the right to 
use the government frank for all official Four Minute Men mail 

Ihe Four Minute Men Speakers themselves who had delivered talks in 
three successive campaigns, and whose work was considered satisfactory were 
given a registration card in the organization signed by the Local Chairman and 
countersigned by the State Director, and issued over the signature of the National 
Director at Washington. The speakers thus recognized as official Four Minute 
Men were decorated with the official badge of the organization containing the 
abbreviated symbol 4MM4 This badge provided an incentive to speakers of 
nigh ability to join the ranks everywhere. 



•jj75 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

The experience. Illinois - to cooperation ^ronjth^ 
agers was so conspicuously satisfactory ^^at i^^ was telt tna^^ patriotic 

litter of the P-sident some sor^ of rec^^^^^^^^ ^ 

theatre owners. The Four AW certificate to every theatre that had 

Council of Detense issuea a ^"'' V ^ ^i certificate was suitable for 

opened its doors to the Four Minute Men. i he cem^^^^^ 
framing, and was ^"dorsed by the Loc 1 Chan-man the btae ^,^^^ ^^^^^^^ 

of the country. This message wa sent throug^^^^^ Washington to get 

o^ t^ebX^ft^r/Lpolsca^ea on contest, eithe. ,„ Fon M.nu.e speeches 

^"^*°"' Hosts to "Blue Devils" 

The Four Minute Men us.a% •^adso.e official pan ^J^^^^^!^^ 

ttrtLT wa^^o'u\,?;rfhe ct \.ay 29.h., ms was s^ 

by the arrival of the nKomparabe b n<l o^ B e De-h of F-_.c^^^^^^ 

rmenc'a was pr^par ng t"win the wa^ at any cost. An all day celebrat.on wa. 
^rTanged by the Fo"r Minute Men. under the auspices »«*.= State Counc.lo 

rEc'hirr cSie'd't ^;st ^^c irnct^„'itte°^o^SHo|rat^;hTi; 

|1"^7ue'^,5e;ir|p| I «|b£theirw. regalia a,^ 

'lal'-rio^^Xrt t^te&J V^^ F-^and .- -Hs The en.,.s.as™ 

SoTof^thTp o'ntin " °e=n"'onn"ct;dVu5 SafworK in Chicago were present 
;; tL 1„nrheon During the luncheon speeches were made by Mr^ bamuel 

S?iPTh^a;p-ra=,^fSXe"ne-,\^wa^^ 

?• ^;.t,^;p "Over the Ton " The Blue Devils again at the evening meeting 
SeSCmendo^r nth'usTas'm and' the ovation ac/orded the F-^ch ^yarrlors 
will no doubt always linger in their memories. Only one untoward mc dent 
occurred to mar the success of the evening. It happened at the time of the 
Entrance of thTe Blue Devils at the back of the stage. Mr. James C Jeffery, Vice- 
ChSr^ano the Four Minute Men of Chicago, who was to be Chairman of he 
^vlnW was nreceding the party when a piece of scenery suspended above the 
See beclmerosefr^m its mooring and fell, striking Mr. Jeffery on his head 
and cutt'nTa deep wound. Mr. Palmer, the Chicago Chairman stepped into the 
Sairman'f place^a^d conducted the program with his usual brilliance. Mr. 
JeS^fter a prolonged visit to the hospital and several weeks of recuperation, 
fully recovered. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 177 

The Red Cross Campaign was followed by another campaign setting forth 
the ideals of America in the war under the heading "Danger to America." The 
work of the Four Minute Men was never of more service to the nation than 
during this three weeks' campaign. The Four Minute Men sought to show 
that the success of Prussianism would mean the defeat of Americanism, and 
that the American people were fighting not only for their own existence and that 
of their Allies but for the sake of the German people also. 

Thrift and Patriotism 

This campaign with its striking results was followed by an appeal to the 
people to save their earnings by purchasing War Savings Stamps. On June 5th 
Secretary McAdoo again addressed the Four Minute Men with the cordial 
appraisal contained in the sentence "The value of your work cannot be over- 
estimated." He requested the great army of 35 thousand Four Minute Men 
to step forward and help make the week's campaign a gigantic success. 

The War Savings Bulletin was followed by a campaign in which the Four 
Minute Men again took up the fundamental issues of the war, speaking from a 
bulletin entitled "The Meaning of America." This bulletin developed and inter- 
preted the ideals of America from a historical standpoint in which was logically 
set down the sequence of events bearing upon the development of Americanism 
from the time the Pilgrims sought their spiritual freedom here, through the 
period of the Revolution, and the war of the freedom of the seas, down to the 
freeing of the Negro and the later liberating of Cuba. It laid stress on the 
great part the Germans of the old school, Carl Schurz, and Franz Sigel, played 
in helping formulate America's ideals. Thus the Four Minute Men carried 
through another campaign with notable success. 

On June 14th, the National Flag Day, the Four Minute Men throughout the 
State of Illinois, at the special request of the Bureau of Education, were ready 
and able to send a speaker to any factory or school. Thousands of short 
speeches were given. 

On July 4th President Wilson presented a personal message to the people 
of America through the Four Minute Men to be delivered at all public gather- 
ings and motion picture theatres in the land on Independence Day. The mes- 
sage was addressed particularly to the representatives of foreign races who had 
become Americanized in the great "melting pot" and who were celebrating the 
anniversary of the birth of their land of adoption on that day along with men 
and women of other races, in one great voice of loyal enthusiasm. In conclud- 
ing this message the President said "I ask you, fellow citizens, to unite with 
them (Americans of foreign birth) in making this, our Independence Day, the 
first that shall be consecrated to a declaration of independence for all the 
peoples of the world." 

On July 29th the Four Minute Men were called to perform another impor- 
tant task for one of the government departments. The government was just 
about to announce a new program to mobilize American industry ; to induce 
employers to get their help and employes to get their jobs through the United 
States Employment Service of the Department of Labor. Secretary of Labor, 
Mr. W. B. Wilson, in a letter addressed to the Four Minute Alen, asked that it 
be explained to all men who work, "whether they work with a shovel or at the 
lathe, or in the office, the need of cooperation at this time," and that it be told 
them that in doing so they were delivering a message second to none "in imme- 
diate and lasting importance." In this movement the Four Minute Men coop- 
erated with the State Directors of the United States Employment Service, and the 
United States Public Service Reserve. 

"Where Did You Get Your Facts?" 

Following the campaign for the Department of Labor the Four Minute Men 
turned their attention to a subject which proved to be one of the most popular 
which they had ever undertaken. The campaign was entitled "Where did you 
get your facts?" It aimed to stop the rumors which were being spread by the 
thousand and which whether intentionally or not were proving to be of great 
assistance to enemy propaganda. It was felt that the Four Minute Men would 



178 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

do a great piece of work for the country, second only to the accomplishment of 
the Secret Service, in rounding up pro-German propagandists, if they could spread 
the test question "Where did you get your facts?" broadcast over the country to 
meet and arrest the rumors and insinuations which paid propagandists were 
sowing. In this work the Four Minute Men were at their best and hardly a 
rumor was started on its journey after this campaign which was not subjected 
to pitiless analysis on all hands if it savored in any way of German sources. 

In August occurred as usual the great state agricultural fairs. The govern- 
ment was particularly desirous of appealing to the farming element at these 
fairs in respect to the conservation program, the financial program, and the other 
important war questions. A request was therefore made for the Four Minute 
Men to be officially represented at these fairs and to hold, if possible, in con- 
nection with them, state conventions to which all Four Minute Men would be 
invited. 

In accordance with this request the Four Minute Men in Illinois established 
a booth at the State Fair at Springfield and invited all Four Minute Men Chairmen 
and speakers of the state to visit this booth for thepurpose of comparing notes 
and obtaining and receiving criticisms and suggestions on the work as it was 
being carried on in the various cities and counties. Mr. Sidney Brees'e, Chairman 
of the local Four Minute Men in Springfield, was in charge of the booth. The 
State Director was in attendance for several days and Mr. John J. Hennessey, 
Vice-Chairman of the state Four Alinute Men, followed the State Director and 
remained for the duration of the Fair. The booth was situated in a special 
building devoted to government war enterprises and government pictures were 
displayed in a nearby tent at which Four Minute Men talks were given. 

On August 26th the Chicago Four Minute Men gave a luncheon in honor of 
the representatives of the U. S. Government War Exposition, which was to be 
given in Grant Park, Chicago. Mr. Samuel Insull, General Chairman of the 
Citizens' Committee, under whose auspices the exposition was staged, Messrs. 
J. J. O'Connor and C. I. Campbell of the Bureau of Exposition, SergeantLotac 
of the French Blue Devils, Monsieur Leblanc, representing the Association of 
French Artists, Andrew Stamengo of the Italian Navy, Lieutenant Martin of the 
Canadian Army, and Marechal LeSoil. representing the Belgian government, were 
guests of honor and spoke at the luncheon. 

The Four Minute Men announced the War Exposition not only in Chicago 
but to all audiences in the State of Illinois. This exposition, which in the course 
of its two weeks' duration was visited by two million people, proved to be the 
most successful War Exposition held in the country. 

Helping the New Draft 

America had entered the war to win and by this time it was seen that 
nothing could turn the tide but a tremendous American Army in the field. A 
new draft law had been passed by Congress extending the age limit from 31 to 
45 and from 21 to 18. A national registration day, September 12th, was named 
on which day all male inhabitants between the ages of 18 and 45, except those 
who had registered in the first draft, were required to register for military 
service. At the request of Provost Marshal General E. H. Crowder the Four 
Minute Men now devoted the week preceding September 12th to telling all 
citizens of military age to proudly step forward and register on the appointed 
day. The registration of some thirteen million men proceeded without a hitch 
and that one fact was a death blow to the hopes of the Central Empires. 

The influence of the Four Minute Men had been felt not only in forensic 
effort from the motion picture stage but had developed in other effective ways. 
One of those ways was in Community Singing. The Division of Films of the 
Committee on Public Information undertook to furnish to Four Minute Men 
Chairmen throughout the country at a nominal price slides containing the 
national songs of America such as the Star Spangled Banner, America the Beau- 
tiful, There's a Long, Long Trail, etc. Hundreds and thousands of audiences 
by this plan were led in enthusiastic public "sings" by experienced song leaders. 
The city of St. Louis especially did notable work in developing Four-Minute 
Singing. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 179 

The latter part of September marked the beginning of the great drive for 
six billions of dollars, known as the Fourth Liberty Loan. The peak of Four 
Minute Men activity was reached during this campaign which extended from 
September 28th to October 19th, 1918. During this period the Four Minute Men 
addressed 2,510,380 people in the State of Illinois. The work of the organiza- 
tions in the smaller cities and rural districts was especially effective in helping 
to "put over" this gigantic loan. 

In September Mr. Wililam McCormick Blair finished his very successful 
record of service to the nation as National Director of the Four Minute Men to 
enter the Artillery Ofticers' Training School at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. He was 
succeeded by Mr. William H. Ingersoll, who had been for some time a member of 
the National Council of Four Minute Men. 

New Fields Invaded 

The work by this time extended also into many other fields. In this expan- 
sion the Chicago organization, under Mr. Ernest Palmer, always took the lead. 
The first branch activity to be established was the Church Section of the Four 
Minute Men. After conferences with various heads of denominational organi- 
zations in Chicago it was found that the churchmen in the state would welcome 
cooperation with the Four Minute Men in order to do their bit directly for 
the government in urging America's cause in the war. Under the plan the Four 
Minute Men bulletins were to be sent to all clergymen and pastors who would 
agree to give a Four-Minute talk on the subject of the bulletin every Sunday 
to their congregations. The talk could either be introduced into the body of the 
sermon or could be given directly before or after the sermon. Hundreds of 
pastors enrolled under the Four Minute Men Church Section in Chicago. As 
the work extended throughout the state there were thousands assisting in this 
American propaganda movement. 

In a similar way the Fraternal Section was formed in Chicago and later 
throughout the whole state. The Fraternal Section numbered as its members 
one representative of each lodge of the great fraternal organizations. This mem- 
ber was selected for his ability to give a Four-Minute speech to its members at 
the regular meetings of the lodge. 

In Chicago also was developed the Labor Union Section under the same plan. 

An Amusement Parks Section was another branch activity of the Chicago 
organization. This Section was centered in a Committee which arranged regu- 
lar four minute and sometimes ten minute talks in the public parks and amuse- 
ment parks throughout the summer months. 

A section was then established known as the "Convention Section" for the 
purpose of providing Four Minute Men speakers for all convention meetings 
of any kind which were held in the city of Chicago. 

Perhaps the most significant collateral work of the Chicago organization 
was the Wabash Avenue Section. The Wabash Avenue Section was conducted 
by the colored Y. M. C. A. organization under Mr. Alexander L. Jackson, Sec- 
retary of the Wabash Avenue Y. M. C. A. Mr. Jackson himself was a leader 
of rare ability and a magnificent speaker, and under him this organization did 
notable work for the Four Minute Men cause. 

At the personal request of Food Administrator Hoover the Four Minute 
Men devoted the week of October 20th to 26th to explaining the national food 
program for 1919. 

In relation to this campaign Mr. Hoover wrote the following words : 
"Our government has pledged seventeen and one-half million tons 

of food to the Allies and our own Army in France. This is five and 

three-quarter millions more than we shipped last year and our aggregate 

food supply is approximately the same. Our simple formula for this 

year is to further reduce the consumption and waste of all food. The 

new Home Card enjoins the eating of food for health and strength 

only and not merely for pleasure or for habit's sake." 

Mr. Hoover stated that in contrast to the methods of European food control 
he believed we could accomplish the necessary saving in 1919 as we did in 1918 
with the voluntary action of the people. 



180 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Beating the Influenza 
It was at this time that the activities of the national organization were 
greatly curtailed by the prevalence of the worst influenza epidemic known to 
history. The disease had already spread through continental Europe and finally 
had reached the United States. So virulent was the form of this epidemic that 
in thousands of communities all public meetings were cancelled. Illinois was 
especially hard hit. In this dilemma the newspapers all over the state were 
asked to print Four-Minute talks signed by well known Four Minute Men at 
the top of prominent columns every day, taking up the same subjects that 
would have been brought to the people's attention by the Four Minute Men in 
their regular routine of speaking in the movies. 

As a result of this epidemic the next campaign, which had been designed 
to cover the subject of "Fire Prevention" and which had been strongly endorsed 
by Mr. B. M. Baruch, Chairman of the War Industries Board, had to be all 
but given up in Illinois. The subject contained a wealth of sound advice both 
for war times and peace times for the people of this country about their besetting 
sin — wastefulness, this time in connection with our huge fire losses. 

Beginning the 3rd of November a tremendous drive was launched by the 
various activities responsible for sustaining the morale of the army and navy 
to obtain funds to carry on in still greater magnitude their magnificent work. 
The several organizations united in this campaign to avoid the duplication of 
effort which separate drives would have made necessary included the 

Young Men's Christian Association War Camp Community Service 

Young Women's Christian Association American Library Association 

Knights of Columbus Salvation Army 

Jewish Welfare Board 
And while it was in full swing the most momentous fact in modern history 
was being recorded near the fighting line in France. The armistice was signed 
November Uth, 1918. The War Work Drive, as it was called, had already 
obtained enough momentum to carry it through successfully but the signing of the 
armistice wrought a sudden change in every activity connected with the war, 
and among other things the attitude of the Four Minute Men toward the work 
they had in hand. 

During the weeks previous to the armistice the state organization in Illinois 
had been developing a plan for a huge War Conference to be held in Chicago on 
November 21st and 22nd. This conference was to typify the spirit that had 
been shown by the Four Minute Men in Illinois. The General Committee having 
the War Conference in charge, besides the State Director, was made up of 

John J. Hennessy, Vice Chairman. 

Henry P. Chandler, Secretary. 

Joseph Feuchtwanger, Treasurer. 

A. DeFord Pitney, in Charge of Publicity. 

M. A. Greenebaum, Chairman Finance Committee. 
The Finance Committee had arranged to pay the railroad expenses of the four 
hundred delegates from all parts of the state to Chicago and return, and they 
also made possible an impressive program which included an inspection trip to the 
Great Lakes Naval Training Station. 

When the Armistice Came 

The War Conference would have been the greatest meeting of Four Minute 
Men ever held, but unfortunately for the delegates the signing of the armistice 
meant that the activities of the Four Minute Men organization would soon come 
to a close, and that it was hardly right to spend a large amount of money at that 
juncture for a convention gathering of war workers, especially as the purposes 
of the organization had been fulfilled by the attachment of the German signa- 
tures to Marshal Foch's ultimatum. 

The Prize Contest which was to have been a prominent feature of the War 
Conference was, however, actually carried through. A solid gold Four Minute 
Men pin was offered for the best written Four Minute speech on the subject 
"The Part of the Four Minute Man in the War." The judges were 

Professor Charles H. Woolbert, University of Illinois 

Clarion DeWitt Hardy, Northwestern University 

Hugh S. Magill, Jr., Springfield, Illinois 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 181 

The judges were unanimous in awarding the prize to Mr. Fred A. Wirt of 
Chicago for his notable speech. 

There followed after the armistice in the executive ranks of Four Minute 
Men organizations all over the country and in Washington heated discussions 
as to whether the usefulness of the organization was at an end. The State 
Director took an uncompromising attitude in his belief that the Four Minute 
Men should close their career at a time when their usefulness was at its height 
and that such a form of government-inspired propaganda would not be accept- 
able to the people now that hostilities had ceased. There was a difference of 
opinion, however, among many members of the Chicago Executive Board and 
Mr. Ernest Palmer, Chicago Chairman, was sent to Washington by the Chicago 
organization to confer with National IDirector IngersoU on the subject. While 
Mr. Palmer was in Washington it was definitely decided that the Four Minute 
Men discontinue their work on the day before Christmas, 1918. It is due to 
the credit of Mr. Wm. H. IngersoU, National Director to say that this decision 
was one of the most important and fortunate decisions ever rendered in con- 
nection with Four Minute Men activities, for had the organization been allowed 
to run on, as many of the prominent men both in and out of the organization 
thought it should, a loss of prestige would have resulted which would have 
gone far to mar the splendid name the organization had built up during the 
war. A paternal system of propaganda was a good and necessary thing in 
America in war time, but it would prove the undoing of democracy in peace 
times, even as it did in the case of the German Empire. 

Nevertheless the War Work Campaign went on in spite of the armistice 
until its scheduled close. This was followed by a short campaign on the Red 
Cross Home Service and on December 7th the Four Minute Men discussed the 
question uppermost in all minds, the prospects of peace, in a bulletin entitled 
"What Have We Won?" which covered the period of December 8th to 14th. 

On December 23rd the Four Minute Men again cooperated with the Red 
Cross in their Christmas Roll Call and on the next day paid a well merited tribute 
to the work of the allies of the United States in the war. In this tribute the 
contribution of the Four Minute Men to the cause of the Great War was closed. 

Some Details of Personnel 

At this time there were in Illinois 2,800 regular Four Minute Men speakers, 
994 speakers in the Fraternal Section, 1,196 speakers in the Church Section, and 
68 speakers in the Labor Union Section. The audiences numbered 800,000 people 
per week. 

Before closing this report I wish to say one further word about the brilliant 
record of the Chicago organization under Mr. Ernest Palmer's Chairmanship. 
On the occasion of the closing "get-together" dinner of the Chicago organiza- 
tion held November 22nd, the opening words of Mr. IngersoU, National Director, 
were "I have come from your branch office at Washington to report." These 
generous words from the National Director were a well merited tribute to the 
work of the pioneer organization which had led the movement throughout the 
whole history of the war. Not only Mr. Palmer but to all members of the 
Executive Board in the Chicago organization belongs the credit of the notable 
record in Chicago. These men met together week after week from the beginning 
of the war to its end in managing the affairs of the Chicago organization, and 
in addition attended regular meetings of its various committees. Many mem- 
bers of the Executive Board were also doing regular speaking. The men who 
had made up the Executive Board, later called the Governing Committee in Chi- 
cago, at various times during the war were : 
Nathan Ascher William A. Durgin 

Godfrey H. Atkin William S. Elliott 

E. A. Abbott Herbert J. Friedman 

Solomon H. Clark George R. Folds 

Henry P. Chandler Stephen Gardner 

Anthony Czarnecki Max Hyman 

John H. Clayton William E. Heaney 

Harry J. Dunbaugh Joseph Hopp 

William R. Dickinson C. H. G. Heinfelden 



182 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

George R. Jones Joseph A. Rushton 

R. E. Pattison Kline Harry J. Ridings 

John L. Lovett Andrew R. Sheriff 

Rollo L. Lyman Peter J. Schaefer 

Louis W. Mack William G. Sage 

Henry G. Miller Frederic UUmann 

Bertram G. Nelson Lloyd C. Whitman 

Mortimer M. Newfield Waldo P. Warren 

Frederick F. Norcross A. C. Wild 

John J. Peckham George R. Jones 

Ernest Palmer James C. Jefifery 

Harry J. Powers Donald M. Wood 

J. W. Palmer Waldo P. Warren 

John P. Wilson, Jr. 

The Chairmen of the Chicago Committee were : 
James C. Jeifery, Chairman Admissions Committee 
Frederic F. Norcross, Vice Chairman Admission Committee 
Lloyd C. Whitman, Chairman Amusement Parks Section 
Harry J. Dunbaugh, Chairman Assignment Committee 
Godfrey H. Atkin, Chairman Church Section 
C. H. G. Heinfelden, Chairman Conventions Section 
E. A. Abbott, Chairman Fraternal Section 

I'e. Pat^fson Kline 1 Instructors in Public Speaking 

John H. Clayton, Chairman Labor Union Section 

Nathan Ascher ] 

William E. Heaney | 

Joseph Hopp (■ Representing Motion Picture Industry 

Max Hyman I 

Peter J. Schaeffer J 

A. C. Wild, Chairman Program Committee 

John L. Lovett, Chairman Publicity Committee 

Herbert J. Friedman, Chairman Public Schools Committee 

H^rry j! RidTngs / Representing Regular Theatres 

John J. Peckham, Chairman Speakers' Conference 

William A. Durgin, Chairman Speakers' Conference 

Donald M. Wood, Chairman Theatre Committee 

William S. Elliott, Treasurer 

Henry G. Miller, Vice Chairman 

Henry P. Chandler, Chairman Wabash Avenue Section 

Cities of Notable Record 
Notable service to the nation was performed not only in Chicago but in the 
following other cities in Illinois ; in Waukegan under the chairmanship of 
Clarence Diver; and Centralia under the chairmanship of S. L. Dwight; Cairo 
under the chairmanship of William H. Johnston; Joliet under the chairmanship 
of Fred H. Scheel ; Peru under the chairmanship of W. J. Stanton ; Decatur 
under the chairmanship of C. B. T. Moore, R. A. ; Danville under the chairman- 
ship of Walter J. Grant; Chicago Heights under the chairmanship of Reverend 
A. I. Zeller ; East St. Louis under the chairmanship of H. L. Browning; Alton 
under the chairmanship of J. B. Steck; Morris under the chairmanship of Dr. 
W. E. Walsh ; and Belleville under the chairmanship of George Neiss. 

At the close of the work in Illinois the following staff of officers of the state 
organization were in charge of the work : 

Donald M. Ryerson Honorary Chairman 

George R. Jones Chairman 

Ernest Palmer Vice-Chairman 

John J. Hennessy Vice-Chairman 

Henry P. Chandler Secretary 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



183 



Those who made up the State 
war were: 
Nathan Ascher 
E. A. Abbott 
Sidney Breese 
Henry L. Browning 
Henry P. Chandler 
Solomon H. Clark 
William R. Dickinson 
Harry J. Dunbaugh 
Clarence Diver 
S. L. Dwight 
William S. Elliott 
Joseph Feuchtwanger 
Stephen Gardner 
Joseph Hopp 
George R. Jones 
William H. Johnston 
Rollo L. Lyman 
John H. MacGregor 
Louis W. Mack 



Executive Board at various times during the 

Henry G. Miller 
C. B. T. Moore 
Bertram G. Nelson 
Ernest Palmer 
John J. Peckham 
Harry J. Powers 
Harry J. Ridings 
Joseph A. Rushton 
W. J. Stanton 
Roger B. Hull 
William E. Heaney 
John J. Hennessy 
Frederic Ullmann 
Waldo P. Warren 
Fred H. Scheel 
William G. Sage 
Peter J. Schaefer 
John P. Wilson, Jr. 
Donald M. Wood 



The last word of this report should be one of appreciation for the attitude 
of the State Council of Defense toward the Four Minute Men of Illinois 
throughout the war. Had it not been for the quick perception of the Chairman 
of the State Council of Defense in seeing the great possibilities of the move- 
ment at the beginning, and the consistent help shown by the State Council and 
its departments toward our work throughout it would have been impossible to 
carry on the Illinois organization in the effective way in which it was carried 
on Although less important than the spirit of cooperation shown by the 
State Council of Defense toward the Four Minute Men, the unstinted financial 
support accorded to the organization is hereby gratefully acknowledged. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Geo. R. Jones, State Director. 



APPENDIX XI 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WAR EXPOSITION. 

February 15, 1919. 
To the Sfate Council of Defense: 

The Committee on Public Information, at Washington, D. C, requested 
the co-operation of the State Council of Defense in selecting a Citizen's Com- 
mittee, such Committee to assist the Council in staging a United States Govern- 
ment War Exposition here in Chicago. At the meeting of the Council held July 
12, 1918, authority was given to aid in this undertaking, providing it could be 
done witliout cost to the Council. 

Representing the Committee on Public Information in this enterprise was 
Mr. J. J. O'Connor, who had been loaned to that Committee by the American 
Red Cross for this special purpose. 

The purposes of this Exposition were to aid in building up civilian morale, 
to educate the American people to the magnitude of the war task undertaken 
by the Government, to visualize the accomplishments of Governmental depart- 
ments and war organizations, to satisfy the curiosity of the people concerning 
implements of war, and to stimulate every spectator to greater individual effort 
toward winning the war. 

Immediately after the close of this exposition in Chicago, the exhibits 
displaj'ed there were broken up into smaller exhibits and sent around the 
country, to aid in various "drives" which were being carried on, and also to 
act as educational matter, just as in the larger exposition in Chicago. 

This was a gigantic undertaking, and meant that every effort must be 
strained to the utmost between July 12, 1918, and September 2, 1918, when the 
exposition was to be ready to open its gates, to make it what Chicago and the 
State of Illinois, would be proud to call one of its many win-the-war efforts. 

On July 25, 1918, a mass meeting was held in the auditorium in the State 
Council building, of some three hundred and fifty representative citizens of 
Chicago and its suburbs, which was called by the Council for the purpose 
of soliciting their assistance in making this exposition a success. The Chairman 
of the State Council of Defense was elected General Chairman, and given author- 
ity to proceed with the creation of a working organization. Headquarters were 
provided free at 72 West Adams Street, where, also, were housed many other war 
activities. 

Officers and Committees 

The general officers, the Executive Committee and the names of Chair- 
men of the various Committees are given below : 

General Officers 
Samuel Insull. Chairman. S. J. Palmer, Asst. Secretary. 

R. J. Dunham, Vice-Chairman. J. J. O'Connor. Special Representative, 

Lucius Teter, Vice-Chairman. Committee on Public Information, 

D. F. Kelly, Vice-Chairman. Director General. 

F D. Hulbert, Treasurer. Chester I. Campbell, Director, Bureau 

E. J. Murnane, Asst. Treasurer. of Expositions. 
E. J. Doyle, Secretary. 

Executive Committee 
Samuel Insull, Chairman. Charles W. Folds. 

Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen. Ernest R. Graham. 

Leonard A. Busby. Victor A. Olander. 

Mrs. Frederick A. Dow. Harrison B. Riley. 

Robert J. Dunham. John T. Stockton. 

184 



STATE COUNCIL OP DEFENSE 



185 



Lucius Teter. 
Charles H. Wacker. 

E. D. Hulbert. 

D. F. Kelly. 

Finance Committee 
Harrison B. Riley, Chairman. 

Buildings and Grounds 
Pierce Anderson, Chairman. 
George B. Foster, Secretary. 

Advance Sales of Tickets 
Lawrence Heyworth, Chairman. 
G. M. Spangler, Secretary. 

Publicity Committee 
Samuel Insull, Chairman. 
Dana H. Howard, Secretary. 

Transportation 
Britten L Budd, Chairman. 

F. W. Shappert, Secretary. 

Prograi>i 
Harry P. Harrison, Chairman. 
Robert Sherman, Secretary. 

Aviation Committee 

E. C. Brown, Chairman. 
Jas. S. Stephens, Secretary. 



Eugene U. Kimbark. 
William H. Mann. 
Levy Mayer. 
H. H. Merrick. 

Army and Navy 
J.)Iin T. Stockton, Chairman. 
G. M. Spangler, Secretary. 

Auditing 
William Sutherland, Chairman. 
E. J. Murnane, Secretary. 

Co-operation of Nationalities 
Felix J. Streyckmans, Chairman. 
Nels M. Hokanson, Secretary. 

Co-operation for Labor Day 
Charles W. Folds, Chairman. 
W. S. Hamilton, Secretary. 

Reception Committee 
Samuel Insull, Chairman. 
H. H. Merrick, Vice-Chairman. 
Walter S. Brewster, Secretary. 

Co-operation of Volunteer War 
Agencies 
Marquis Eaton, Chairman. 
W. D. Thurber, Secretary. 



It devolved upon the State Council to raise a guaranty fund from the citizens 
of Chicago to protect the United States Government against loss, and Mr. 
Harrison B. Riley, Chairman of the Finance Committee, with his corps of 
assistants, had no ditificulty in securing the necessary pledges to the amount of 
$100,000, but the Exposition was so successful that the guarantors were never 
called upon for cash. 

Comprehensive War Exhibits 

Among some of the features were fourteen car loads of captured war 
trophies, cannon, airplanes, machine guns and small arms, these donated by not 
only our own army in the field but the French, British, Italian, Belgian, and 
Canadian governments ; exhibits of machine guns, tanks, airplanes, rifles, used by 
the American troops; ofiicial motion pictures of the Government showing soldiers 
in training and in action; exhibition airplane flights; demonstrations of trench life 
and warfare, provided by the regular army with the co-operation of Maj. Gen. 
Thomas H. Barry; demonstrations of vocational guidance for wounded men; 
addresses by American and Allied leaders in the war ; and a sham battle, "over 
the top," staged by United States soldiers and marines, this exhibition taking 
place once in the afternoon and once in the evening; 'No Man's Land," con- 
structed exactly as it existed in the real war, which could be inspected by 
visitors all day and evening ; band concerts by the Great Lakes Naval Train- 
ing Station Band ; exhibitions by the various war work organizations, such as 
the Red Cross, War and Navy Department Commission on Training Camp 
Activities, Liberty Loan, United States Shipping Board, U. S. War Savings 
Committee, the United States Food Administration, the War and Navy Depart- 
ments of the United States, the British, Canadian, French, Italian and Belgian 
War Missions. State Council of Defense Woman's Committee, Y. M. C. A., 
Knights of Columbus, Salvation Army, Jewish Welfare Board, Fort Sheridan 
Association, Western Relief Fund, American Fund for French Wounded, 
Fatherless Children of France, Daughters of British Empire War Relief, and 
Illinois Tuberculosis Association. 



186 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Tremendous Interest Aroused 

The Exposition was located in Grant Park, Chicago, by permission of the 
South Park Commissioners. A special program was prepared for the after- 
noon and evening of every day of the Exposition. Speakers were secured not 
only from Chicago, but notable men from all over this country and visitors in 
this country from the allied countries. A very successful effort was made to 
emphasize the existence of the many nationalities going toward the make-up 
of the population of our country, and to show their loyalty. 

Through the aid of the Chicago Association of Commerce and the District 
Committees of the Cook County Auxiliary, over a million and a half tickets 
of admission were sold in advance at half the price asked to those applying 
for tickets at the gates. A nominal admission fee was necessary to cover 
running expenses. The purpose of the Exposition managers was to charge 
the smallest possible admission thought to be sufficient. Under the law, what- 
ever profit might be made had to be turned over to the United States Treasury. 

The weather during the first three or four days of the Exposition was 
inclement, but in spite of that the attendance ran up, and at the end of the 
fourteen days 1,955,602 people had passed into the grounds. 

After all bills were paid, including the expenses of the representatives of 
the Committee on Public Information and other Government agencies, the 
Exposition committee was able to turn into the treasury of the United States 
$306,146.51. As in all other work of the Council, all who worked on this 
Exposition, excluding the stenographic and clerical assistance, donated their 
services, so that the expenses of the Citizens' Committee were of minor con- 
sideration. 

Nothing on a larger scale than this Exposition has been seen in this part 
of the country since the world's fair in 1893. 

Respectfully submitted, 

E. J. Doyle, Secretary. 



APPENDIX XII 

ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE OF CHICAGO 

December 2, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The City of Chicago made no arrangement for a celebration of the Cen- 
tennial of the admission of Illinois as one of the United States of America. A 
committee had been appointed to take the matter up, but had done nothing. 
Under these circumstances Governor Lowden called upon the Chairman of the 
State Council of Defense, to organize an appropriate celebration and a meeting 
of Chicago citizens, to organize and arrange for a celebration was held in the 
rooms of The State Council of Defense July 31, 1918. Organization of the Illi- 
nois Centennial Committee of Chicago was then effected with the following 
officers : 

Clarence A. Burley, Chairman 

W. Tudor Ap Madoc, Vice-Chairman 

H. N. Tolles, Secretary 

Charles L. Hutchinson, Treasurer. 

On August 5 a general plan of procedure was outlined and sub committees to 
execute it were named as follows : 

Finance — C. L. Hutchinson, Chairman ; A. G. Becker, A. R. Bone, 
D. R. Forgan, E. D. Hulbert, H. H. Merrick and C. H. Wacker. 

Program — H. H. Merrick, Chairman ; Charles W. Folds, Col. Wm. 
N. Pelouze, C. O. Frisbie, John T. Stockton, Augustus E. Bournique, 
Charles H. Wacker, John C. Weigel, Wallace Rice, Geo. W. Dixon, 
Felix Streyckmans, Jas. F. Stepina, John R. Pallandech, John F. Smulski, 
P. S. Lambros, Otto L. Schmidt, Mrs. Laura P. Young, Miss Bertha 
L. lies, Mrs. A. Starr Best, Ernest E. Cole, C. A. Burley, W. Tudor 
Ap Madoc and H. N. Tolles. 

Pageantry — Mrs. Jacob A. Baur, Chairman ; Mrs. A. Starr Best, 
Vice-Chairman ; John C. Weigle, Secretary; Mrs. Lyman T. Walton, 
Miss Lilian Fitch, Miss Bertha L. lies, Wallace Rice, Louis Eckstein, 
Charles H. Wacker, C. O. Frisbie, Miss Caroline L. Mcllvaine. 

Publicity — Bernard J. Mullaney, Chairman ; John R. Pallandech, 
Oscar Durante. 

On Americans of Foreign Birth and Extraction — Felix Streyckmans, 
Chairman ; Jas. F. Stepina, Vice-Chairman ; John R. Pallandech, Peter 
Lambros, John F. Smulski, Mrs. Lyman T. Walton. 

It was intended by the Program Committee to produce a pageant, of which 
a sketch had been submitted by Mr. Wallace Rice. A number of patriotic citi- 
zens of German descent had before that time organized as The Illinois Historical 
Pageant Committee and arranged to give a patriotic pageant. Their plans were 
well formulated, and rehearsals had already begun for producing a pageant by 
Mr. Arthur Hercz, and they had obtained the right to use the Chicago Auditorium 
for the week beginning October 7th. The Centennial Committee arranged with 
that committee to take the Auditorium for three or four nights and took a lease 
pf the Auditorium for that week, and obtained the refusal of the Dexter 
Pavilion at the Stock Yards for the remaining evenings. It was found impos- 
sible to make a satisfactory production of Mr. Rice's pageant, owing to the 
ihort time for preparation and rehearsals prior to October 7th. The Audi- 
torium could not be obtained for any other time. 

187 



188 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Historical Pageant Prepared 

On September 13, 1918, at a joint meeting of the Illinois Centennial Com- 
mittee of Chicago and the Illinois Historical Pageant Committee, it was 
decided that the Illinois Centennial Committee should take over the produc- 
tion of the pageant prepared by Mr. Arthur Hercz, so far as it should prove 
suitable, the other committee retiring from the field, but promising to give all 
assistance possible. The idea of meetings at the Dexter Pavilion was given 
up. It was also arranged that to meet the expenses of the performances, the 
boxes at the Auditorium should be sold, but that all other parts of the house 
should be free to the public. A promise was also obtained from the Illinois 
Centennial Commission that some of the Centennial Half Dollars coined for it 
by the United States Government would be allotted to the Centennial Commit- 
tee of Chicago to be sold by it to help cover the expenses. 

There appeared shortly afterward a number of articles in the Chicasro 
newspapers, stating that the whole celebration had been captured bv the Ger- 
mans and would not be a patriotic American affair. The Committee had. before 
taking over the pap^eant prepared bv Mr. Hercz. carefullv gone over his scenario 
and had found nothiner in it that was not entirely patriotic and correct: but. to 
avoid criticism, the committee made some chanees and eliminated all German 
music, thoueh some of it which had been arransred for and rehearsed was 
especiallv appropriate to the scenes to be depicted. Mr. Boeppler had been in 
charge of the choruses and music, but as be was personally attacked it was sug- 
gested that he resis^n as mtisical director. He verv generouslv did so, at the same 
time ureine' the choruses he had trained to remain under any other leader that 
might be chosen. To his patriotic and unselfish action is largely due the suc- 
cess of the musical part of the performance. To take his place the Committee 
appealed to Mr. Daniel Protheroe and Mr. William Weil, who both gave their 
time and attention to conducting the rehearsals and music. Special music was 
prepared for the occasion by G. Paoli, Mr. Protheroe and William J. Goodell. 
Dances were arranged and directed by Mme. Marie Yung. 

Mass Meetings and Monuments 

The evening of October 7th was given up to a dress rehearsal of the Pageant. 
On October 8th was a patriotic mass meetinsr presided over bv the chairman of 
the State Council of Defense, at which Prof. Thomas G. Masaryk. since elected 
president of the new Czecho-Slovak nation, delivered the address of the eveninsr. 
The pageant was eiven on the evenings of October 9th. lOth and 11th and the 
afternoon of October 12th. On the evening of October 12th there was another 
mass meeting in behalf of the Liberty Loan, at which Governor Lowden and 
Secretary of the Treasury Wm. G. McAdoo made addresses. The Auditorium 
was packed at every performance and every meeting. 

In addition to the meetings at the Auditorium, two monuments were unveiled 
with appropriate ceremonies, arranged and conducted by the Centennial Com- 
mittee of Chicago. These monuments were erected by the trustees of the B. F. 
Ferguson Monument Fund ; that fund which is dedicated to the beautifying of the 
City of Chicago by providing artistic monuments for its thoroughfares and public 
places. For enhancing interest in the Centennial, the trustees of the Fund 
turned over the ceremony of their unveiling and dedication to the Centennial 
Committee. 

On the 26th day of September the statue of Alexander Hamilton, in Grant 
Park, north of the Art Institute, was unveiled. Colonel LeRoy T. Steward was 
entrusted with the military part of the proceedings and had there a detachment 
of troops, and there was a military band and one from the Great Lakes Naval 
Training School. Mr. W. Tudor Ap Madoc was chairman. The invocation 
was by Rt. Rev. Samuel Fallows, the Star Spangled Banner was sung by the 
assembled people, and was followed by an eloquent address on the life and work 
of Alexander Hamilton by Mr. John T. Voigt, Jr., of the Hamilton Club. The 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 189 

presentation of the monument was made by Mr. Frank G. Logan in behalf of 
the B. F. Ferguson Mounment Fund. The statue was unveiled by Miss Barbara 
Blatchford, a descendant of Alexander Hamilton, and the monument was 
accepted by Mr. Roy O. West in behalf of the South Park Commissioners. 

On Sunday, the 13th of October, was dedicated the Illinois Centennial Mon- 
ument in Logan Square. This also was erected by the trustees of the B. F. 
Ferguson Monument Fund. The West Park Commissioners arranged the 
ground for the occasion, providing a grand stand about the monument, and 
seats for the public, and they also arranged a pageant exhibiting the develop- 
ment of Illinois from the time of the Indians, on the lines of the basrelief scenes 
sculptured on the pediment of the monument. The architect, Henry Bacon, was 
present ; also the sculptress, Miss Evelyn B. Longman. Mr. W. Tudor Ap 
Madoc presided. Rev. Timothy J. Stone made the invocation. The monument 
was presented by Mr. Charles L. Hutchinson on behalf of the trustees of the 
B. F. Ferguson Monument Fund and accepted by Mr. Jens C. Hansen on behalf 
of the West Chicago Park Commissioners. Governor Lowden was the guest of 
honor and made the dedication address. Music was by the Chicago Band under 
the leadership of William Weil. 

The proceeds from the sale of boxes in the Auditorium and from the sale 
of the Centennial half dollars covered all of the committee's expenses. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Clarence A. Burley, Chairman. 



APPENDIX XIII 

FINAL REPORT OF THE FOOD PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION 
COMMITTEE, STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

February 5, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

By your direction, I have the honor to submit the final report of the Food Pro- 
duction and Conservation Committee of the State Council of Defense. 

Membership 

J. Ogden Armour, Chairman ; John A. Spoor, B. F. Harris. 

Purpose 

(1) To stimulate and encourage an increased food production in Illinois 
during the war, especially those foods that were most needed, and to assist 
farming and live stock interests in all ways possible. 

(2) Conservation of food and avoidance of waste. 

Co-operating Agencies 

Illinois College of Agriculture, State Department of Agriculture, U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, U. S. Boys' Working Reserve, and the U. S. Food 
Administration. 

History 

In September, 1917, measures were taken to effect a state-wide food pro- 
duction and conservation organization. Illinois is fortunate in having within 
the state some very representative agricultural and livestock organizations, and 
in taking up this work it was the specific intention of the State Council of 
Defense not to disturb any of these organizations who were functioning so 
satisfactorily. It was our primary purpose, therefore, to join with them in 
lending constructive assistance and co-operation for the purpose of co-ordinat- 
ing, as far as feasible, the existing activities, and to eliminate, as much as 
possible, duplication of effort. Conferences were held with the leading agricul- 
tural influences of the state as to the best means of effecting such an organiza- 
tion and recommendations were made of men who, because of their experience 
and knowledge of agricultural conditions, were best fitted to serve in this work. 

Organization 

A county food production and conservation committee was organized in 
each county. These committees included the leading agricultural and livestock 
influences in the county as recommended by the various organizations. Many 
of the counties had Farm Advisers, and "in such cases they were appointed as 
the county chairman for this work. The size of the committees in the various 
counties was left to the discretion of the county chairman, and as a result many 
counties were organized by townships, and in others the work was under the 
direction of a strong central committee. The membership of the food produc- 
tion and conservation organization throughout the state totaled 1,500, and the 
office of the Secretary at 120 West Adams street, Chicago, served as a clearing 
house for this work throughout the state. 

All phases of this work were given consideration by this committee and 
some of the results achieved are best indicated by the following activities : 

190 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 191 

Seed Corn 

The early frosts in the fall of 1917 registered the greatest damage in his- 
tory to the corn crop of the middle west, and the problem of securing suffi- 
cient seed corn for 1918 planting presented itself as a matter of vital irn- 
portance to this state. The seriousness of the situation was fully realized in 
Illinois and a conference of the best seed corn men in the state was accord- 
ingly called by the State Council of Defense at Chicago on December 27, 1917. 

The problem was fully discussed and as a result a seed corn survey was 
immediately instituted which revealed the fact that the seed corn shortage was 
so serious that unless unusual efforts were made, one-third of the normal corn 
acreage in Illinois would have to be abandoned or planted to other crops. It 
was considered the most serious problem that Illinois agriculture had ever faced. 

At a later conference the Seed Corn Committee appointed by the State 
Council of Defense met with the State Agricultural Advisory Board at Spring- 
field on January 15th to discuss plans to meet the situation, and as a result 
recommendations were offered that the State Council of Defense appoint Wm. 
G. Eckhardt, Farm Adviser of DeKalb County, as Seed Corn Administrator for 
Illinois, assisted by the following advisory committee : 

Eugene Funk, member of the Producers' Advisory Committee of Secre- 
tary of Agriculture Houston and Food Administrator Hoover and ex-president 
of the National Corn Association, Shirley, chairman; Charles Adkins, Director 
of Agriculture, Springfield; W. F. Handschin, vice-dean. College of Agriculture, 
Urbana; H. J. Sconce, president Illinois Seed Corn Growers' Association, 
Sidell; John M. Crebs, banker and farmer, Carmi ; J. F. Prather, Illinois State 
Board of Agriculture, Williamsville; Peter E. Fleming, secretary. 

Seed Corn Bought and Sold 

The immediate purpose of the Seed Corn Administration thus appointed 
was to arouse the state to the seriousness of the situation and urge the farm^ 
ers to secure and test their own seed, and as a last resort to develop, buy, sell 
and distribute sufficient seed corn to enable the normal acreage of Illinois to 
be planted. 

The State Council of Defense, under the Act by which it was created, 
could not engage in any business enterprise. However, a corporation was 
formed under the laws of Illinois called the "State Council of Defense Seed 
Corn Administration," with a capital of $500 and with power under its charter 
to buy, sell and deal in seed corn. 

To finance this work sixteen Chicago banks agreed to loan the corporation 
on demand notes at 6 per cent such amounts as would be necessary not exceed- 
ing in the aggregate $1,250,000. 

Through the Food Production and Conservation Committee, a seed corn 
organization was created in each county of the state under the direction of a 
County Seed Corn Administrator, and in this work the best seed corn men 
were enlisted. 

Early in February, 1918, the work was well under way, and through a vigor- 
ous campaign the state was fully aware of the situation. The shortage of 
seed was so apparent, however, that it became immediately necessary for the 
Seed Corn Administration to enter into the seed corn business. The following 
prices were adopted for seed corn, which was to be tipped, butted, shelled and 
bagged, and farmers generally were urged to develop seed for sale: 

Percentage of Buying Selling 

Germination Price Price 

70— 799o $4.50 $ 6.00 

80— 89% 6.50 8.00 

90—100% 8.50 10.00 

This work was undertaken only because the situation could not be dealt 
with adequately in any other way, it being the desire of the State Council of 
Defense not to interfere with the business of established seed concerns, nor to 
regulate their prices. While the buying prices adopted were rather high, it 
was necessary to make them attractive enough to interest farmers to develop 
seed, and the selling price of an advance of $1.50 per bushel was to cover the 



192 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

expense of operation, transportation, etc. It further had the effect of inducing 
farmers to develop their own seed without having to pay the advanced price. 

All seed contracted for was not purchased until a composite sample of 
each lot was tested at the College of Agriculture, University of Illinois, Urbana, 
where a working force of over seventy specialists, under the direction of Dr. 
W. L. Burlison of the Crop Production Department, performed the work. The 
College of Agriculture deserves great credit for their active co-operation in this 
undertaking. 

The seed corn campaign throughout the state progressed satisfactorily 
and it soon became evident that this united effort would take care of Illinois' 
seed corn needs. 

Aid to U. S. Department of Agriculture 

The seed corn situation in the other states of the corn belt outside of 
Illinois was most serious and the U. S. Department of Agriculture and local 
state agencies were making every effort to meet it. During the month of 
April the U. S. Department of Agriculture received an appropriation of 
$6,000,000 to be used for developing reserve stocks of seed throughout the 
country. Out of this appropriation the Illinois Seed Corn Administration was 
authorized to develop a reserve supply of 50,000 bushels of seed to be used 
for replanting purposes in Illinois. With this fund at its disposal, it was pos- 
sible for the Seed Corn Administration to proceed without fear of developing 
an oversupply of seed, as this reserve would serve as insurance against loss. 

On May 11th a seed corn conference was called in ChFcago by Secretary 
of Agriculture Houston which was attended by various department experts and 
representatives from the surrounding states. Discussion brought out the perti- 
nent fact that the states adjoining Illinois had no consequential reserve stocks 
of seed, and that Illinois, because of its organization, was best equipped to 
develop a supply. Authorization was, therefore, given them to develop, if pos- 
sible, a reserve of 100,000 bushels of seed corn to be used, if needed, for re- 
planting purposes in the corn belt. This action insured a reserve stock and 
thus avoided an otherwise serious situation. 

Corn-planting time in Illinois is generally under way by May 10th of each 
year. Up to May 1st of this year it was estimated that over 40 per cent of 
the farmers in the central and northern counties of Illinois had either not 
secured their seed or had seed that would not grow. The acuteness of this 
situation immediately changed our method of delivery. Up to that time all 
corn was expressed collect to the buyer. To meet existing conditions carload 
movements of seed were immediately inaugurated from southern points to 
twenty- four distributing depots in the central and northern counties where it 
was most needed and where it was distributed. These depots were so located 
that seed could be called for by team or automobile, and this method cared 
for the heavy demand for seed that came just before planting time. 

Results of Seed Corn Campaign 

Results of the seed corn campaign were most gratifying. The seed corn 
needs of the state were well taken care of. Over 60,000 bushels of tested seed 
were sold to over 16,000 Illinois farmers, and only six complaints were reg- 
istered against it. The sale of seed of doubtful germination from seedsmen of 
questionable reputation was stopped in many instances. The administration not 
only supplied seed to the state, but also protected farmers from many un- 
scrupulous seedsmen. 

The total loan made by the syndicate banks amounted to $495,000, and final 
payment on this amount was made on June 7th. Profits on the venture amounted 
to $141,758.38. 

Ideal growing conditions prevailed throughout the corn belt during May 
and early June, and it was soon evident that the Government reserve of 100,000 
bushels would not be necessary. The work of development was stopped at 
65,000 bushels. The unusual growing conditions throughout the corn belt were 
most fortunate, and because of this, the reserve was largely unused. The 
profits accruing to the Seed Corn Administration were turned over to the 
Government to reimburse them for some of the loss incurred in developing 
this reserve. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 193 

Members and workers of the Seed Corn Administration deserve the highest 
commendation for their participation in this work. It was a great sacrifice to 
many of them because they necessarily had to neglect their own interests to 
be of service in the larger work of supplying the State with seed. Their 
efforts will be of lasting benefit to Illinois agriculture, as the gospel of seed 
testing was emphasized as it never was before. 

When it is considered that one bushel of seed corn will plant eight acres 
and that one acre will yield approximately forty bushels, the importance of this 
work, in a sense, can be realized. Illinois and Iowa produce twenty-five per 
cent of the country's corn crop and it was the opinion of agriculturists gen- 
erally that the Illinois State Council of Defense, because of its initiative and 
enterprise in this work, saved the situation for the State. 

Food Production Conference 

The necessity of an increased food production throughout the United 
States was particularly emphasized during the winter of 1917-18. Wisdom 
would seem to dictate, however, that such advice to be effective, should 
be accompanied by a suggestion of a definite program to meet regional conditions. 

With this idea in mind the State Council of Defense, College of Agriculture, 
University of Illinois, and the Corn Growers' and Stockmen's Convention united 
in a call for a war conference for the purpose of deciding upon a definite 
program of food production to be recommended to the farmers of Illinois 
and a preliminary survey was made to determine the lines in which increased 
food production was most desired so that the conference might approach the 
formulation of a program with a clear idea of the particular results to be 
attained. 

This war conference met at Urbana on Monday, January 28, 1918, and 
worked continuously until the evening of Friday, February 1, 1918. Over 1,000 
of the leading agriculturists of the State were present and all counties were 
represented. The following committees of authoritative men representing each 
phase of Illinois agriculture were appointed by the War Conference Committee 
to make recommendations : 

General War Conference Committee Peter E. Fleming, Secretary, Food Pro- 
B. F. Harris, Vice-Chairman, ^linois duction and Conservation Commit- 

State Council of Defense, Cham- tee, Chicago, Secretary. 

paign, Chairman. iVheat Production Committee 

Eugene Davenport, Dean, College of p j j^ann. Chairman, Oilman. 

Agriculture, Urbana. W, I_ Ziegler, Clinton. 

Chas. Adkins, Director of Agriculture, a. N. Abbott, Morrison. 

Springfield. Ralpli Allen, Delavan. 

W. F. Handschin, Director County ^ .^, n i. n j ,• 

Agents Urbana Committee on Fork Froduction 

Eugene Funk, Chairman, Seed Corn ^^''^f * ^- ^u^ford, Chairman, 

Administration, Shirley. „ J-^'']?^"^- ^ , .„ 

J. G. Imboden, President, State Live ^v ^- ^^''y- fef^'^T,'''^- 

Stock Association of Illinois, De^ ^-tT- ^V°''^u' ^l"^^^"- 

(.^l^j- E. D. Murphy, Peoria. 

H. W. Mumford, Animal Husbandry W- J- Carmichael, Urbana. 

Division, Urbana. Beef Froduction Committee 

Cyril O. Hopkins, Agronomy and j q imboden, Chairman, Decatur. 

Chemistry, Urbana. y^^^_ Wright, Springfield. 

Frank I. Mann, Illinois Farmers In- g ^ j^all, Mechanicsburg. 

stitute. Oilman. jos. Fulkerson, Jerseyville. 

J. V. Stevenson, President Corn Orow- ^ p R^gj, Urbana. 

ers and Stockmen s Convention, 

Urbana. Wool and Mutton Production Committee 

W. C. Coffey, Animal Husbandry Divi- W. C. Coffey, Chairman, Urbana. 

sion, Urbana. H. Noel Oibson, Dundee. 

Mrs. H.^ M. Dunlap, Chairman, Wo- Phil Oillham, Princeton. 

man's Food Production Commit- John Fitzjarrel, Greenfield. 

tee, Savoy. R. J. Stone, Stonington. 



194 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Dairy Products Committee Committee on Soil Fertility 

J. P. Mason, Chairman, Elgin. Cyril G. Hopkins, Chairman, Urbana. 

C. V. Gregory, Chicago. Ralph Allen, Delavan. 

H. A. Harding, Urbana. William E. Riegel, Tolono. 

E. B. Heaton, Wheaton. Frank H. McKelvey, Sparta. 

Geo. Keller, Batavia. C. V. Gregory, Chicago. 
H. J. Schulz, Shipman. p^^^^^ Machinery Committee 

Seed Corn Administration j. V. Stevenson, Chairman, Streator. 

Eugene Funk, Chairman, Shirley. E. A. White, Urbana. 

H. J. Sconce, Sidell. J. B. Bartholomew, Peoria. 

John M. Crebs, Carmi. C. L. Meharry, Toulon. 

J. F. Prather, Williamsville. C. E. Ewing, Decatur. 

Chas. Adkins, Springfield. H. O. Kunkel, Carthage. 

W. F.Handschin Urbana. JVomati's Food Production Committee 
Wm. G. Eckhardt, Seed Corn Adniini- tt nr t^ i ^^ ■ o 

strator, Chicago. ^rs. H. M. Dunlap, Chairman, Savoy. 

Mrs. H. A. McKeene, Sprmgfield. 

Farm Labor Committee Mrs. C. S. Bruner, Pontiac. 
Roy C. Bishop, Pontiac, Chairman. Mrs. Augustus Peabody, Chicago. 

W. H. Young, Urbana. Mrs. George McMahon, Olney. 

L. W. Wise, Watseka. Mrs. Charles Hubbard, Winnetka. 

After each of the above subjects were discussed by the general conference, 
the various committees made their recommendations which were included in a 
pamphlet, 75,000 copies of which were given wide and effective distribution 
throughout the State. Its contents were well visualized, discussed at various 
agricultural meetings, and the program went far toward shaping Illinois' course 
for the 1918 crop. 

Farm Labor 

The farm labor problem in Illinois received early consideration by this 
committee. A conference on this subject was held in Chicago on December 
27th, 1917, and during the following January, measures were taken to organize a 
State Farm Labor Administration through the Food Production and Conserva- 
tion Committee. A plan was formulated to establish farm labor clearing houses 
in each county of the State where requests for jobs and help could be registered, 
these clearing houses to be in touch with a general clearing house located in 
Chicago. 

At a confrence called by the district representative of the U. S. Department 
of Labor on February 13th, 1918, in Chicago, at which representatives from the 
various Federal and State labor agencies were present, this plan was discussed 
and approved, and the following Farm Labor Administration, including repre- 
sentatives from all agencies interested, was created : 
Peter E. Fleming, Chairman. 

Secretary, Food Production and Conservation Committee, Chicago. 
J. W. Kirkton, 

President, Illinois Agricultural Association, Pontiac. 
J. G. Imboden, 

President, State Live Stock Association of Illinois, Decatur. 
Burridge D. Butler, 

Director, U. S. Boys' Working Reserve, Chicago. 
Charles J. Boyd, 

General Superintendent, Illinois Free Employment Service, Chicago. 
James G. Boor, Examiner in Charge, U. S. Employment Service, 

Chicago. 
H. W. Young, 

Farm Help Specialist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Urbana. 
Charles A. Munroe, 

State Director, Public Service Reserve, Chicago. 
Frank I. Mann, Gilman. 
J. P. Mason, Elgin. 
E. K. Moy, Secretary, Chicago. 
Roy C. Bishop, Administrator, Chicago. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 195 

Through the co-operation of these various agencies, farm labor administra- 
tors were appointed from the Food Production and Conservation Committee 
membership in each county and effective propaganda was launched visualizing 
the State Council of Defense Farm Labor Agencies to the farmers and local 
workers. 

Examining Board Established 

A feature of the Administration was a farm labor examining board of 
competent and practical Illinois farmers who were permanently located in the 
State Council of Defense building at 120 West Adams Street, Chicago, for the 
purpose of examining such applicants as appeared for farm work. This board 
registered effective results, as only 17 per cent of all men applying for farm 
work received the approval of the board. Its operation had the effect of gain- 
ing the confidence of the farmers in our farm labor organization, as the appli- 
cants thus sent to the farms made good. 

During February and early March, 1918, a serious farm labor shortage was 
generally anticipated and every effort was made to meet it. The Administra- 
tion, therefore, concentrated its effort on the following possible sources of 
supply : 

1. The usual supply of farm labor that emanates from Kentucky, 

Southern Indiana and Illinois points. 

2. The man in the small towns and cities who came from the farm 

and thought he wanted to return. 

3. The retired farmer. 

4. Available labor of the employment agencies. 

5. U. S. Boys' Working Reserve. 

The farm labor shortage, however, did not develop. This became evident 
as early as the middle of March and by April, 1918, it was definite. The 
following reasons accounted for this : 

1. An unusually good spring which had put farm work ahead about 

three weeks. 

2. Farm labor wages in Illinois were higher than at any previous time, 

$35.00 and $45.00 per month with board being the rule. 

3. The decision of the War Department in placing skilled farm hands 

registered in class One on the deferred list. 

4. General propaganda "Food Will Win the War" and the talk of a 

great farm labor shortage, had the effect of turning back to the 
farm the experienced farm help located in small towns who found 
it patriotic and profitable to do farm work. 
In this connection the efforts and propaganda of the Farm Labor Admin- 
istration and the U. S. Boys' Working Reserve operating throughout the State 
largely contributed to this. 

Labor Reserve for Harvesting 

Early in May, 1918, measures were instituted to develop a reserve supply 
of farm labor to take care of the seasonal shortages that fegularly occur during 
corn planting and harvest time. Through the financial co-operation of the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, an emergency farm labor campaign was inaugurated 
and experienced organizers were placed in various counties of the State to 
co-operate with this committee in registering men of farm experience in the 
small towns to put in part time on the farm during the "peak periods." 

The operation of the draft which called into service over 15,000 men from 
Illinois farms during the period from June 1st to 24th, created a drain at that 
time which was most severe. Were it not for the emergency farm labor 
campaign which was successful in registering over 50,000 experienced workers 
for periods extending from three days to one month, and the efforts of the 
U. S. Boys' Working Reserve in placing on Illinois farms over 20,000 boys 
between the ages 17 and 20 years, the farm labor situation in Illinois would have 
been most critical. 

The harvest periods, however, were well taken care of by these workers. 
A state-wide interest was created and the patriotic and co-operative spirit of 
the small town people did much to relieve the situation. 



196 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

In Chicago this work was sponsored by the Association of Commerce in 
behalf of the State Council of Defense and their efforts were successful in en- 
rolling a large reserve of workers. 

Illinois Work Commended 

Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Christie at a conference held July 25, 
1918, reviewed particularly the work of Illinois and Kansas, and considered 
the results as remarkable. He stated that flie War Department had continually 
received complaints from other parts of the country on the drafting of ex- 
perienced farm hands. General Crowder, however, was determined that no 
exemptions be granted, and in a statement to the farmers of the Northwest, 
said : 

"The farmers in those sections which are confronted with the 
problem of harvesting wheat at a time when some of their help will 
be called to the colors, should receive an inspiration from Kansas 
and Illinois. In general, the farmers of that section faced the same 
situation, yet every acre of grain was cut and shocked by small towns- 
people who responded to the call." 
Effective August, 1918, the U. S. Employment Service was created as the 
recruiting and placement branch of the Department of Labor by order of the 
President, and was officially designated to be the one organization to perform 
this service, thus eliminating all other employment agencies. 

The Employment Service recognized and appreciated the effectiveness of 
our Farm Labor Administration, and in order to effect a closer relationship 
with this feature of our work and to bring together all the other farm labor 
agencies of the State, I was appointed State Director of Farm Labor. However, 
the personnel and organization of our various county farm labor administrations 
remained unchanged. 

Campaign for Corn Huskers 

During September the possibility of a shortage of corn huskers in central 
and northern Illinois seemed to be more serious than was anticipated, and to 
relieve the situation in these sections, the following plan was decided upon : 

An aggressive campaign of publicity in Southern Illinois where corn losses 
due to drouth created a surplus of corn huskers. This involved an appeal to 
laborers and southern Illinois farmers to come norlh and husk corn in central 
and northern Illinois. 

1. This was done by quarter-page advertisements that were run a few 

times in all daily and weekly papers in the southern part of the 
State. This service began about October 10th and ran until 
the 20th, supplemented by newspaper articles. 

2. Distribution of posters in banks, elevators and other prominent 

places. 

3. An appeal to our southern Illinois labor administrations urging their 

people to answer the call. 

4. Instructions were given to the Federal and State offices at Alton, 

Cario, Centralia and East St. Louis, to divert all corn huskers 
to points designated in the advertisement. 
In order that this labor would be absorbed as rapidly as possible in central 
and northern Illinois, the following plan was adopted and carried out: 

1. Acquainting the farmers in each county immediately through the 

press, mailing list and other channels of the effort that was 
made in southern Illinois to secure corn huskers. 

2. Urging all farmers to register as early as possible their needs 

with the county office to insure a speedy placement of huskers. 

In conjunction with this we secured from the various farm implement 

companies, the names and addresses of about five hundred owners of corn 

picking machines in Illinois. These owners were appealed to for community 

action with their machines. These pickers, while still far from being perfect. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 197 

have been developed where they can be used to good advantage on many farms 
in Illinois. They save considerable labor, and three men with seven to nine 
horses can pick seven to eight acres per day. 

Wages for Corn Huskers 

The apparent shortage of corn huskers caused an agitation throughout the 
State on the wages to be paid corn huskers. To settle these rumors and 
stabilize labor, it was recommended by our Farm Labor Administration that six 
and seven cents a bushel be established as a fair standard price based on good 
standing corn. The six cents price was recommended to be paid when board 
was furnished and seven cents when the busker boarded himself. Tliis scale of 
prices we believed to be fair to both the farmer and the busker. It was not 
excessive compared to the price of corn, and it enabled the average corn 
husker to earn more than ordinary harvest wages at a season of the year when 
working conditions were better. This action was suggested by the Illinois 
Agricultural Association and the move proved very popular in agricultural 
circles. 

In addition to this campaign, arrangements were made with the military 
authorities at Camp Grant for the release of about 300 experienced men for 
corn husking. These men were known as limited service men and were not 
accepted for overseas work because of slight physical disabilities. They were 
all farm boys and the military authorities were very glad to have them utilized 
in this work. 

This work was so organized that the discontinuance of the Council's par- 
ticipation did not interfere with its effectiveness, as it was continued under the 
direction of the U. S. Employment Service. 

War Gardens 

The Food Production and Conservation organization outside of Chicago 
was so busily engaged with the larger problems of supplying the State with 
seed corn, farm labor and other activities, that it was deemed advisable to con- 
centrate the war garden movement in Chicago and vicinity and to leave the 
direction of this work through the State to the other county committiees of the 
State Council of Defense. 

A Chicago and Suburban War Garden Conference was accordingly held 
in Chicago on February 27th, 1918, its purpose being to bring together the various 
agencies that took part in the 1917 garden movement and to consider such 
action as would result in greater production and conservation of vegetables for 
1918. The subject was fully discussed and as a result the State Council of 
Defense was requested to appoint a war garden committee representing the 
various garden influences, to carry on this work in the Chicago district. Mr. 
J. H. Prost, a member of the Agricultural Extension Department of the Inter- 
national Harvester Company and formerly City Forester for Chicago, was 
drafted to direct this work, and the following war garden advisory committee 
was appointed : 

Thomas J. Webb, Chairman. 

Robert B. Beach, Chicago Association of Commerce. 

Joseph Budlong, Truck Gardener. 

John C. Cannon, Lincoln Park Commissioners. 

Walter E. Dorland, Boy Scouts of America. 

J. F. Foster, South Park Commissioners. 

August Geweke, Truck Gardener. 

J. A. Hiller, Y. M. C. A. 

P. G. Holden, Director, Agricultural Extension Department, Interna- 
national Harvester Company of New Jersey. 
Brother Justus, Arch-Diocese of Chicago. 

A. R. Marriott, Chicago Title and Trust Company. 

B. J. Mullaney, Publicity. 

Mrs. Augustus Peabody, Woman's Food Production Committee. 
Mrs. Louise O. Rowe, Department of Public Welfare, City of Chicago. 
A. C. Schrader, West Side Park Commissioners. 



198 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

John D. Shoop, Superintendent, Chicago Public Schools. 
Thomas Skompa, Northwest Park Commissioners. 
Leonard Vaughan, Seed Man. 

Harry A. Wheeler, U. S. Food Administrator for Illinois. 
Peter E. Fleming, Secretary. 

War Garden Program Formulated 

Under the direction of this committee the following garden program was 
formulated and given circulation throughout the State and carried out in the 
Chicago campaign. 

1. Formulate a definite program of production for your community 

to be prepared by practical and experienced local gardeners, 
and to include only those vegetables than can be produced by 
the greatest possible number. The seed situation is serious and 
under the stress of war, a war garden this year should be 
limited to a few vegetables that can easily and profitably be 
produced. When such a program is fofmulated, visualize it 
through every agency as the only program to be recommended 
and followed in your community. 

2. Secure the services of a competent person to supervise the garden 

movement in your community. If possible, secure the voluntary 
services of a good amateur gardener in every block to give aid 
and advice to his neighbors. 

3. List all available lots and vacant land, and as soon as possible, 

list all who want gardens. 

4. Plan for co-operative plowing. It is not wise to plow any land 

until its adaptability has been passed upon by some one who 
knows. 

5. Arrange local meetings and have practical and experienced garden- 

ers lecture on the preparation, care and cultivation of gardens. 

In Chicago a food production program was formulated by a committee of 
truck gardeners, including the following vegetables which can be raised easily 
and profitably by most people : 

Beets, carrots, swiss chard, lettuce, radishes, turnips, beans, onions, onion 
sets, parsnips, tomatoes, sweet corn. 

This program was well visualized throughout the city and it went far 
toward shaping the garden program for Chicago. 

Some War Garden Results 

It was the purpose of the War Garden Committee to work through organ- 
izations rather than individuals and serve as an impetus to local eflfort. Some 
of the features resulting from this campaign are as follows: 

Two hundred and fourteen thousand pieces of literature were dis- 
tributed, including garden primers, signs, posters, children's record 
books and bulletins. 

During March an evening short course in gardening was held 
for training teachers and lecturers. 

Six hundred and eighty-two garden talks with an estimated at- 
tendance of over 300,000, were held through the Y. M. C. A., public 
schools, park field houses, improvement associations and neighborhood 
clubs. 

Co-operation was given the seventeen demonstration gardens held 
in the various parks of the city. 

Eight hundred and twenty-five acres of land were assigned for 
garden purposes. 

In co-operation with the park commissioners, 1,500,000 plants were 
distributed. 

Co-operative relations were established with over 300 garden and 
improvement associations. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 199 

In co-operation with the Board of Education, over 75,000 children 
were urged to grow gardens. In connection with this, 40,000 insignia 
bronze bars from the U. S. School Garden Army were distributed. 
The following is an estimate of the number of gardens in Chicago : 

No. of Value 

Acres Gardeners of Crop 

Home Yard Gardens 2,009 140,000 $2,800,000 

Vacant Lot Community Gardens 774 8,422 673,760 

Children's Gardens 206 90,000 55,620 

Approximate Grand Totals 2,989 238,422 $3,529,380 

To impress and urge that gardens should be given some attention this fall, 
750,000 copies of a "Feed Your Garden Now" pamphlets were distributed during 
the middle of October through the Chicago public schools and the Sunday edition 
of the Herald-Examiner. They were also circulated by our county organizations 
throughout the State. This work was supplemented by a poster, 10,000 copies 
of which were distributed. 

Wheat Campaign 

Secretary of Argiculture Houston called a meeting in Chicago on July 25th, 
1918, to discuss the wheat needs for 1919, and representatives from twelve of the 
middle-west States were present. 

The Department of Agriculture deemed it highly desirable that the acreage 
sown to wheat in the fall of 1918 and spring of 1919 should be sufficient to assure, 
if possible, a harvest acreage of wheat as large as the acreage harvested in 1918. 
To assure such a harvest the farmers of the country were asked to sow to winter 
wheat not less than 45,000,000 acres, which would mean a harvest of about 636,- 
000,000 bushels, compared with an estimated yield for 1918 of 557,000,000 bushels. 

In Illinois the acreage sown to winter wheat in the fall of 1917 totaled 
2,602,000 acres. The quota assigned to Illinois for 1918 was 2,934,000 acres or 
an increase over 1917 of 13 per cent. 

We were requested by the Department to co-operate with the College of 
Agriculture in effecting this program, and plans were formulated to bring 
about the result. 

The greatest objection to the more extensive growing of wheat in the corn 
belt is the chinch bugs which breed in the wheat and then destroy the corn. 
This thought was kept constantly in mind and the growing of wheat was en- 
couraged only in those sections where wheat is absolutely a safe crop, without 
disturbing the present system of farming. 

It was decided to assign a minimum and maximum quota to each county, 
thus creating community interest and appealing to local pride. After con- 
sultation with the agricultural authorities at Urbana, quotas based upon the 
cereal acreage as indicated by the last report of the Bureau of Census, were 
prepared and assignments made. Those assignments, however, included both 
winter and spring wheat, and rye was regarded as acceptable in cases where the 
soil was better adapted to rye than to wheat. 

"Grow More Wheat" Campaign 

One hundred and twenty-five thousand copies of a "Grow More Wheat" 
circulars were effectively distributed the early part of August, 1918, and with good 
publicity, our message was spread over the State. The response was so strong 
that it was deemed advisable to cancel all further "Grow More Wheat" propa- 
ganda, because it was evident that in some sections the farmers would grow 
wheat to the detriment of other crops. The following reasons account for the 
unusual interest in wheat: 

1. Illinois produced a record wheat crop in 1918 under very favor- 

able conditions. 

2. The wheat price was most satisfactory and could be raised at a 

good profit in Illinois. One farmer in this State made a net 
profit of $1.43 per bushel in 1918 as against 79c on his corn the 
year before. 



200 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

3. The labor problems of this year looked most serious. Wheat is a 

labor saving crop, as it distributes more evenly man and horse 
labor required in production. Wheat plowing, soil preparation 
and seeding conies in late summer when the farmers' work is 
not particularly pressing and harvesting of fall wheat comes at a 
time when corn is fairly well laid by and oats are not as yet 
ripe. 

4. The Illinois farmer was in the frame of mind where he responded 

readily to the appeals of the government. 

In 1917 Illinois grew nearly twice as much wheat as in 1916, yet this produc- 
tion was increased 70 per cent more in 1918. The wheat which poured to the 
terminals from the winter wheat area of Southern and Central Illinois and 
from the spring wheat district of Northern Illinois totaled the tremendous 
amount of 60,991,00*0 bushels. 

Illinois was first among all the States in the Union in its response to last 
year's call for more wheat. Her winter wheat growers increased their acreage 
10 per cent above that of the previous year, in spite of the fact that corn and 
other crops ofifered the promise of greater profit than wheat. One-seventh of 
the increased wheat acreage in the entire nation was grown in Illinois. 

Her spring wheat growers were equally patriotic. In 1917 there was some 
spring wheat grown in Northern Illinois, but not enough to be included in the 
Government crop report. When the Government asked for 100,000 acres of 
spring wheat in 1918 from Illinois the State responded with 250,000 acres and 
a total yield of 6,725,000 bushels, nearly tripling the amount asked for. All 
this was done, in spite of the fact that barley is better adapted and usually 
more profitable in Northern Illinois than is spring wheat. 

Kill the Smut 

A "Kill the Smut" circular indicating ways of treating wheat seed for 
smut was distributed through our organization. 

Smut is a fungus disease. It develops inside the growing plant and at 
heading time produces a dark powdery spore mass instead of the grain. It not 
only reduces the yield, but also lowers the quality of the sound grain and 
renders it unsafe for planting until treated. 

Silos 

Ten thousand copies of a silo poster and letter were distributed through 
the State durnig the middle of August, urging the use of the silo in Illinois. 
While it was 'too late to engage in any active silo campaign, this method was 
utilized to indicate our endorsement of the silo for Illinois farms. 

Our reason for not engaging in a silo campaign last year was that our 
organization was weighted down with seed corn, farm labor and other urgent 
work. 

Seed Corn — Selection and Storage 

The disastrous frosts of 1917 left the striking lesson that farmers should 
create a sufficient reserve of seed corn at harvest time for the following 
spring's planting. In September, 1918, we launched a campaign urging the 
farmers of Illinois to select their best seed corn early and provide proper stor- 
age facilities. Seed corn weeks were assigned to the following districts of the 
State : 

Northern District, September 15-22. 

Central District, September 20-27. 

Southern District, September 25 ; October 2. 
and 250,000 copies of a combination envelope dodger and poster were dis- 
tributed through our organization, banks, elevators and creameries. 

The campaign brought satisfying results and reports indicated that more 
farmers than usual were performing this task. 

Seed Corn Show and Demonstration 

The message that farmers should use care in selecting their seed corn and 
in testing it before planting was visualized at a seed corn show and demonstra- 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 201 

tion held under the auspices of the State Council of Defense at the Interna- 
tional Live Stock Exposition during the week beginning November 30, 1918. 
A comprehensive seed corn exhibit portraying this message was installed and 
competent authorities were present to talk with the visitors. 

This demonstration was a gratifying success and it was the general opinion 
that good work was registered. 

Food Production Booth at the State Fair 

Our booth at the Fair of 1918 graphically reviewed the work of this com- 
mittee from its creation, and the opportunity was further employed to empha- 
size the "Grow More Wheat" and "Select Your Seed Corn" campaigns. 
Various types of seed corn racks and storage hints prepared by the College 
of Agriculture, were on exhibition and many farmers visited and talked with 
our representative there. 

Agricultural War Board for Illinois 

Inasmuch as agriculture was experiencing some tremendous changes under 
war conditions, it was obvious that there was a need for a competent board of 
agricultural men who w^ould meet from time to time, discuss and consider the 
changing phases in agriculture and ofifer recommendations to the farmers of the 
State. Such a board would not only be useful to Illinois, but to the rest of 
the corn belt, and its advice and suggestions would be appreciated by the 
Department of Agriculture offices at Washington. 

Therefore, it was recommended and approved that such a board made up 
of from thirty to forty of our leading agricultural men, each agricultural 
organization to be represented thereon, as well as every phase of Illinois 
agriculture, be organized, and the following members were appointed : 

A. N. Abbott, Morrison. Simon E. Lantz, Congerville. 
Roy C. Bishop, Pontiac. Cicero J. Lindlej', Greenville. 
I. S. Brooks, Ottawa. John Mann, Rossville. 

VV. A. Burlison, Urbana. D. M. Marlin, Norris City. 

W. C. Coffey, Urbana. J. E. Meharry, Tolono. 

C. J. Cooper, St. Charles. M. L. Mosher, Eureka. 

W. S. Corsa, Whitehall. H. H. Parke, Springfield. 

J. M. Crebs, Carmi. A. T. Peters, Springfield. 

Eugene Davenport, Urbana. J. F. Prather, Williamsville. 

Henry Davis, Springfield. E. T. Robbins, Payson. 

C. R. Doty, Charleston. Alvin H. Sanders, Chicago. 

F. E. Drur}^ Jacksonville. H. J. Schulz, Shipman. 

H. G. Easterly, Carbondale. W. E. Taylor, Moline. 

W. G. Griffith, McNabb. D. O. Thompson, Bloomington. 

W. F. Handschin, Urbana. Geo. F. Tullock, Rockford. 

Frank S. Havnes. Geneseo. J. T. Williams. Sterling. 

E. B. Heatoii, Wheaton. L. W. Wise, Watseka. 

B. F. Harris, Champaign. S. L. Woodburn, Port Byron. 
J. C. B. Heaton, New Burnside. H. E. Young, Springfield. 
Lyle Johnstone, Bloomington. W. W. Wright, Springfield. 

J. W. Kirkton, Gridley. 
The organization meeting of the Agricultural War Board was held in the 
State Council building on October 11th, 1918. H. J. Sconce, Sidell, was appointed 
chairman; H. M. Dunlap, Savoy, vice-chairman, and myself secretary. The fol- 
lowing executive committee was elected : 

Charles Adkins, Springfield ; W. G. Eckhardt, Dekalb ; E. D. Funk, Shirley ; 
John G. Imboden, Decatur ; Howard Leonard, Eureka ; -Frank I. Mann, Gilman ; 
j. P. Mason, Elgin ; H. W. Mumf ord, Urbana ; J. C. Sailor, Cissna Park. 

At its October 11th meeting, the following resolutions were discussed and 
adopted : 

1. The igjg Acreage of Spring Wheat: 

The 1919 acreage of spring wheat will be seriously restricted 
unless a plentiful supply of suitable seed, preferably Marquis, is 
provided. We recommend 



202 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Therefore, that the Food Administration Grain Corporation 
reserve a plentiful supply of Marquis wheat suitable for seed, 
in order to be able to replenish stock as becomes necessary so 
there need be no decrease in acreage due to lack of suitable 
seed. 
2. Limestone and Phosphate Freight Rates and Supply. 

We recommend, that the State Council of Defense endeavor 
to secure a substantial decrease in the present freight rates on 
limestone and phosphate, and to insure as prompt movement 
of these fertilizers as possible. 

We recommend, that the State Council of Defense confer with 
the officers of the Illinois Grain Dealers' Association and the 
Illinois Farmers Grain Dealers' Association in an effort to 
get elevators to buy and store limestone and phosphate at 
seasons when it can be secured, selling it out to farmers at 
seasons when they can use it. 

We also recommend, a conference with the Agricultural Com- 
mittee of the Illinois Bankers' Association in an attempt to 
work out a plan for financing the storage and distribution of 
limestone in southern Illinois. 

Messrs. Frank I. Mann and W. G. Eckhardt, members of the 
Executive Committee were appointed by this body as a com- 
mittee to appear before a meeting of railroad officials to be 
held in November, at which limestone rates will be discussed. 

Hog Prices: 

Whereas, the U. S. Food Administration agreed November 
3rd, 1917, to use its influence to maintain the price of the 1918 
crop of hogs on the ratio of 13 to 1, and 

Whereas, a nation-wide appeal was made to the farmers of the 
United States to increase pork production to a large extent, 
with the understanding that this price ratio would guarantee 
them a fair profit, and 

Whereas, farmers responded to this appeal by increasing hog 

production 8 per cent, in spite of almost prohibitive feed prices, 

and 

Whereas, the average price of $18.00 for hogs at Chicago for 

October, as established by the Food Administration is at least 

$1.00 per cwt. below the 13 to 1 basis, and 

Whereas, at the same time the Food Administration has is- 
sued regulations designed to reduce most consumption, probably 
because it is feared that the supply will not be equal to the de- 
mand, and 

Whereas, the action of the Food Administration in failing to 
maintain the 13 to 1 ratio is regarded by hog growers as a 
serious breach of faith and will seriously restrict the produc- 
tion of pork next year. 

Therefore, Be It, Resolved, that we ask the Food Administra- 
tion to carry out its part of the agreement with the 
same degree of good faith that the farmers have carried out 
theirs, and that future prices of hogs be established and main- 
tained on the 13 to 1 basis, without quibbling or equivocation, 
in order that farmers may feel that they may accept the state- 
ments of the Food Administration at their face value and that 
an adequate supply of pork for next year may be assured. 
We do not ask for any special favors, but we do expect that 
agreements made with us by any branch of the Government 
be carried out in good faith, and that farmers be accorded in 
some degree at least the same consideration that is given to 
manufacturers and organized labor. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 203 

Gasoline Regulations 

A representative of the Fuel Administration appeared before the Executive 
Committee and stated that for the time being there would be no gasoline restric- 
tions and assured the Committee that if emergency should arise there will be no 
restrictions placed on the farm use of gasoline for food production and practical 
purposes. 

At its November 11th meeting, the following subjects were discussed: 

Boys' Working Reserve. 

Emergency farm labor in small towns. 

Community co-operation. 

More efficiency of farm machinery and horses. 

Women on farms. 

At a meeting of the Agricultural War Board on December 5, 1918, plans 
were formulated to transfer the work of the Board to the Illinois Agricultural 
Association. This Association is made up of members of the various county 
farm bureaus. It thoroughly represents all agricultural interests in Illinois 
and is the only organization that could carry on the work of the War Board. 

Patriotic Food Show 

Held in the Coliseum at Chicago, January 5th to 13th, 1918, inclusive. It 
was the opinion of this committee that the message of food conservation could 
best be brought home to the housewife through visualization rather than the 
printed word. The holding of such a show, however, required a large and 
complete organization, and the following officers and committee were appointed 
to promote and manage the exposition : 

Louis M. Stumer, Chairman. D. H. Howard. 

W. E. Skinner, Vice-Chairman. Aaron Jones. 

P. E. Fleming, Secretary. D. F. Kelly. 

Miss E. Allen. A. D. Lasker. 

S. H. Anderson. F. C. Letts. 

Frank H. Armstrong. E. W. Lloyd. 

Miss Isabel Bevier. W. D. Mcjunkin. 

Mrs. J. D. Black. Edward Morris, Jr. 

Mrs. J. C. Bley. B. J. Mullaney. 

Mrs. F. D. Countiss. Mrs. Raymond Robins. 

E. L. Byfield. Dr. J. D. Robertson. 

L. A. Crowell. E. M. Rosenthal. 

Wm. H. Culver. Miss Jennie Snow. 

B. A. Eckhart. Samuel B. Steele. 
Mrs. Lynden Evans. Edward F. Swift. 
R. L. Evans. Ezra Warner. 
Robt. G. Gould. F. Edson White. 

C. R. Grover. Thos. E. Wilson. 
Louis H. Hartman. D. M. Yates. 
Geo. Higginson. C. E. Hoyt. 

The committee represented all phases of the food industry, U. S. Food 
Administration and educational influences that were interested. 

Primarily the show was a series of practical demonstrations of those foods 
that our Government desired us to use in this national crisis and the adopted 
slogan was "What to Eat and How to Cook It." Every eflfort was made to 
acquaint the people, in an int,eresting and definite manner, with what the food 
situation demanded and the U. S. Food Administration, U. S. Department of 
Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and the War and Navy Departments each with 
new and complete exhibits with their own demonstrators, lecturers and experts, 
gave demonstrations of all the various food products which enter into our 
national life and how they are to be used. The War and Navy Departments 
demonstrated the Government's efYorts in feeding and housing the soldiers and 
sailors. 

The show was a gratifying success. In spite of two blizzards and the worst 
transportation tie-up Chicago ever experienced, over 125,000 people attended. It 



204 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

was generally regarded as the most practical and comprehensive effort of its kind 
ever held and the message of food conservation was effectively delivered. 
Official representatives from over 25 states and from Canada were present to 
take notes and gather ideas for similar shows in their respective localities. 
Mr. Hoover in his message of congratulation said: 

"Such an extensive and impressive exhibit, revealing importance 
of knowledge of food values and methods of home economics, intelli- 
gent food use and substitution of abundant and local foods for those 
so imperatively needed by our European associates in war, cannot 
fail to do great good. There can certainly be no more effective 
method of carrying the great lesson of the necessity and methods of 
food conservation to the consuming public. Your success in this 
pioneer exhibition should stimulate the other large cities of the country 
to a friendly rivalry along this line." 
Inquiries concerning the management of the show were of such volume 
that it was necessary to prepare and publish an outline of its plan and operation. 
One of the distinct features of the show was a Patriotic Food Show Recipe 
Book, containing over 300 recipes tested and edited by a commission of experts, 
representing the household science departments of the following institutions: 
University of Illinois. 
Lewis Institute. 
Ciiicago Normal School. 
University of Chicago. 
School of Domestic Arts and Science. 
The demand for this book was so great that it was necessary to create a 
Recipe Book Department to handle its distribution. Over 300,000 copies were 
sold and they went to every State in the Union, all parts of Canada, Mexico, 
Hawaiian Islands, England and China. 

Food Conservation 

During the last of July and the first of August, 1918, a vegetable drying, 
pickling and salting campaign was launched in Chicago, and demonstrations 
were held in various parts of the city. A shoct course on these subjects was 
given in the Council Building to volunteer demonstrators who pledged them- 
selves to be of service in the campaign. Over thirty teachers received instruc- 
tion and were enrolled for this work. 

Peter E. Fleming, Secretary. 



APPENDIX XIV 

UNITED STATES BOYS' WORKING RESERVE IN CO-OPERATIO>>P 
WITH THE STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

July 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The United States Boys' Working Reserve was conceived by William E. 
Hall, of New York, President of the Associated Boys' Clubs of America. He 
explained to Secretary of Labor Wilson that there were 5,000,000 boys under 
military age and over 16, every one of whom wanted a chance to help Uncle 
Sam thrash the Kaiser, and that about 2,000,000 of them were school boys, 
either idle or engaged in non-productive occupations for a substantial part of 
the year. 

Mr. Hall proposed that these patriotic young Americans be enlisted for war 
service. The idea appealed to the Secretary of Labor, and he gave the neces- 
sary order for organization of the service. Thus, for the first time in the history 
of any nation, official government recognition was accorded to mmor citizens. 

The Reserve idea was given impetus by a Chicago experiment in 1917, con- 
ducted by Dudlay Grant Hays, Director of School Extension in Chicago, with the 
co-operation of the Board of Trade, Rotary Club, and others. Mr. Hays was in- 
strumental in placing 700 citj' boys on farms in 29 States and three provinces of 
Canada. Their time on farms averaged 87^^ days each; they did a total of 51,100 
days work; earned an average of $25.00 a month, and earned total wages of $42,- 
585.30. Of this entire number of 700 city boys placed on farms, only three were 
reported unsatisfactory workers. Many of these boys went to the farms as early 
as May 1, and lost nearly two months of school, but received full credit for 
their farm work. 

At a national conference in Washington early in June, 1917, plans for organi- 
zation by States were initiated under the direction of Mr. Hall, as National Di- 
rector, the work in each State being placed under a Federal State Director. 

A call to the youth of the land by the President of the United States brought 
a spontaneous response in every State. Many schools and other organizations un- 
dertook the placing of boys to help the farmers. In most cases, the Reserve was a 
horde and results showed the need of organization and careful preparation. In 
1918 the horde became an army of more than 250,000 workers, and a vital force in 
helping win the war. It was organized in all States and Territories and was in- 
corporated as an auxiliary of the United States Employment Service, Department 
of Labor. It was the function of the Reserve to mobilize the boy-power of Amer- 
ica and place the recruits in employment through the United States Employment 
Service. 

Organizing the Reserve in Illinois 

Organization of the Boys' Working Reserve in Illinois was carried out along 
the lines set by the Washington conference, enlisting the various local efforts which 
had been put under way after the beginning of the war and cementing them into a 
State-wide activity. During the summer of 1917, many Illinois High Schools had 
acted upon the call of the President, made through the National Director, and had 
sent boys to the farms. Reports at the end of the summer brought up the number 
of boys who went to farms from the high schools in Illinois to about 1,500; all 
who reported received their school and Reserve credits. 

Anticipating an increasing farm labor shortage as the war progressed, it was 
decided to concentrate the boy-power in Illinois on farm work in 1918, although 
in many other States industrial work was also recognized. 

205 



206 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

The State Council of Defense, appreciating the supreme importance of Illinois 
agriculture, supported the organization of the Reserve at every step. As early as 
October, 1917, Eugene Davenport, Dean of the Agricultural College of the Uni- 
versity of Illinois, and other leaders in agriculture were brought into consultation. 
At this conference a plan was suggested to provide a practical course in agricul- 
ture for the city and town liigh schools of the State. A questionnaire was sent to 
leading Illinois farmers to learn what they wanted the city boy to know when he 
arrived on the farm. The data thus collected served as a basis for the course. 

On November 10, 1917, representatives of the leading educational institutions 
of the State, the College of Agriculture, the agricultural press, farm organizations, 
etc., met to organize for co-operation with the Reserve. The co-operation of the 
Education Committee of the State Council of Defense was enlisted, and the 
Committee was enlarged to broaden its representative character, with membersliip 
as follows : 

Francis G. Blair, Chairman, State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, Springfield. 

Gustav Andreen, President Augustana College, Rock Island. 
James A. Armstrong, Principal, Englewood High School, Chicago. 
A. W. Beasley, Superintendent of Schools, Peoria. 
J. Stanley Brown, Principal, Township High School, Joliet. 
Eugene Davenport, Dean, College of Agriculture, University of Illi- 
nois, Urbana. 

Ida Fursman, Chicago Teachers' Federation, Chicago. 
J. C. Hanna, State High School Supervisor, Springfield. 
Miss Lou M. Harvey, County Superintendent of Schools, Rock Island. 
Miss Elizabeth Harvey, County Superintendent of Schools, Belvidere. 
Mrs. W. S. Hefferan, formerly President of Illinois Congress of 
Mothers' and Parent Teachers' Association, Chicago. 

H. A. Hollister, High School Visitor, University of Illinois, Urbana. 
Brother Justus, President De La Salle Institute, Chicago. 
Mrs. B. F. Langworthy, President Illinois Congress of Mothers' and 
Parent Teachers' Association, River Forest. 

Livingston C. Lord, President Eastern Illinois Normal School, 
Charleston. 

Robert C. Moore, Secretary Illinois State Teachers' Association, Car- 
linville. 

Roy Moore, County Superintendent of Schools, Eureka. 
John D. Shoop,* Superintendent of Schools, Chicago. 
W. L. Steele, Superintendent of Schools,. Galesburg. 
Charles Stillman, President American Federation of Teachers, Chi- 
cago. 

Harry Taylor, Principal, Township High School, Harrisburg. 
Edward J. Tobin, Superintendent, Cook County Schools, Chicago. 
Mrs. Lydia J. Trowbridge, President, Woman's High School Teach- 
ers' Federation, Chicago. 

Reserve and School Work Co-Ordinated 

Messrs. Armstrong, Hanna, Taylor, Brown and Hollister were made a Sub- 
Committee on Curriculum to take up the details of reorganizing high school 
courses of study to accommodate boys enlisted in the Reserve. 

A Sub-Committee on Welfare was composed of Misssrs. Davenport, Shoop, 
Steele, Moore and Tobin. 

The Curriculum Committee recommended a course of farm craft lessons' 
for all high schools co-operating with the Reserve, which was adopted on Decem- 
ber 8, 1917. These lessons were not designed to be a course in the science of agri- 
culture, but to be simple directions in "the language of the farm," and in rudimen- 
tary farm work. The subjects were: 

1. The American Bpy and the War, l)y Dean Eugene Davenport. 

2. When the City Boy Goes to the Farm, by Dean Eugene Daven- 
port. 



'Deceased ; succeeded by Peter A. Mortensen. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 207 

3. The Horse, by J. L. Edmonds. 

4. Harnessing and Driving Farm Horses, by J. L. Edmonds. 

5. Feeding Farm Work Horses, by J. L. Edmonds. 

6. The Cow, by A. C. Page. 

7. The Swine, by W. J. Carmichael. 

8. Handling Farm Machinery, by C. V. Gregory. 

9. The Wagon and Its Care, by E. A. White. 
10. The Plow, by E. A. White. 

n. Cultivating Corn, by C. V. Gregory. 

12. The Mower, by C. V. Gregory. 

13. The Hoe and Its Uses, by J. W. Lloyd. 

14. Wrenches and Other Machine Tools, by Gustave H. Rade- 
baugh. 

15. Miscellaneous Tools and Supplies, by Gustave H. Radebaugh. 

16. Hot Weather Hints, by Carl Colvin. 

17. Some Useful Knots, by E. A. White. 

18. Splicing a Rope, by E. A. White. 

19. Care of the Garden, by C. E. Durst. 

20. Making Hay, by W. L. Burlinson. 

21. Rainy Days on the Farm, by A. W. Jamison. 

22. Shocking Wheat, by W. L. Burlinson. 

It will be seen by the topics that this work was intensely practical. Some of 
the lessons required from two to six hours, and others but one. The aim was to 
devote one school period per day, for eight to twelve weeks, to this farm craft 
work. To make room for these lessons, it was recommended that one regular 
study of the curriculum be omitted during the second semester. The recommen- 
dations also covered provision for the continuing studies which the high school boy 
might be taking with a college course or business career in mind, and which would 
be interrupted by his going to the farm May 1st or earlier. To make the farm 
lessons as practical as possible, use of lantern slides, moving pictures, farm bulle- 
tins and periodicals were recommended ; also excursions to stock yards, stock 
shows, and farm exhibits, and use of borrowed farm machinery. The committees 
were of the opinion that the experience the boys would get by this patriotic service 
on the farms would be worth more to them than the corresponding amount of 
time devoted to the regular courses in school. 

School Work of Far-Reaching Effect 

The action of the educators of Illinois in recommending an elementary agri- 
cultural course, in the more than nine hundred high schools of the State, and re- 
vision of the school year to meet the war emergency, has been referred to as the 
most radical step taken in educational circles in years. The Illinois State-wide 
plan of school credits for vocational work was the first experiment of the kind 
attempted in this country. It was later adopted in other States and on its success 
may be said to depend, in a large measure, the future of popular agricultural edu- 
cation in the high scliools. That the Illinois plan was discussed by the National 
Education Convention at Atlantic City, and recommended by an overwhelming 
vote was encouraging for the success of the enterprise. 

The Farm Craft Lessons were printed at the expense of the State Council 
of Defense, each lesson a leaflet, and the set bound in a stiff board cover fur- 
nished the student. The lessons were introduced into more than 700 Illinois high 
schools, and to libraries, boys' clubs, Y. M. C. A. centers and individuals, and were 
studied by more than 20,000. Nothing has ever been done that won more general 
public approval. The influential agricultural men of Illinois especially expressea 
their appreciation of this vocational training. Educators were of the opinion 
that, with this experiment, agricultural instructions would be a permanent feature 
of Illinois high school work. 

These lessons attracted the attention of educators throughout the country, and 
were sent to every State. In some States they were made the basis of Reserve 
work. Dean Davenport's lesson No. 1, "The American Boy and the War," and lesson 
No. 2, "When the City Boy Goes to the Farm," have been frequently commented 
upon by educators as the most important appeals for war service that have been 
made to the youth of the country. 



208 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

The United States Government undertook to publish the lessons the following 
year, and Dean Davenport was invited to head a committee of deans of leading 
agricultural colleges to rewrite and extend the course for use in public schools 
throughout the country. 

Following long-established custom, the school system of Illinois has been nom- 
inally under the direction of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction; in 
fact, the operation of it§ various branches has been individual. Each school was a 
law unto itself, its policies being laid down by the local controlling bodies. That 
the thirty thousand schools could act together so quickly and efficiently under the 
war call of the State Council of Defense speaks volumes for the intelligence and 
patriotism of the school leaders. 

In January, 1918, a pamphlet prepared by the Educational Committee, outlin- 
ing the entire plan of the Reserve, was published by the State Council of Defense. 
This pamphlet, Entitled "Training the Boy to Win the War," was placed in the 
hands of every high school teacher in the State. A second edition was printed to 
meet the demands for it beyond the State, the Council of National Defense giving 
it nation-wide circulation. Another notable call was from the National Educa- 
tional Association, which placed the pamphlet in the hands of educators generally. 

Contributing Co-Operation 

The Illinois State Teachers' Association, in convention at Springfield the last 
week of 1917, commended the plan for farm service as formulated by the Reserve, 
co-operating with the State Council of Defense, and pledged support. On De- 
cember 17, 1917, the Senate of the University of Illinois voted unanimously that 
students should receive recognition for agricultural work upon entering the uni- 
versity. 

The Illinois High School Association, representing 11,000 high school stu- 
dents, abandoned the spring games in 400 high schools. These high school boys 
trained harder to help the farmers than they ever did to win athletic honors. 

The Y. M. C. A. nationally and in all the States aided the Reserve. In Illinois 
the Reserve has had the help of its trained men. Mr. F. A. Crosby, of Chicago, 
who rendered especially valuable aid, reported that no boys of Reserve age would 
be invited to Y. M. C. A. recreation camps during the war. 

On January 14, 1918, Governor Lowden issued a proclamation urging the 
able-bodied youth of the State to enroll in the Reserve, and designated the week' 
of January 21-26 as especial Registration Week. This proclamation was read in 
all the high schools of the State, and thousands of students responded. 

The activities of the year were confined almost exclusively to students in 
high schools (and the Reserve credit was restricted to agricultural work.) Com- 
paratively little work was done in the enrolling of working boys ; the field was so 
large, it was deemed wise to confine efforts to the more accessible groups of 
boys in high schools. Special mention should be made, however, of the splendid 
work of Mr. George A. Devenau, Director of Public Library Co-Operation, who 
enrolled hundreds of workihg boys for the Reserve. Mr. Devenau worked 
through the 234 libraries in the State. 

The agricultural and industrial agents of the important railroads in Illinois 
co-operated in a most efficient way. On one occasion, with a few days' notice, thou- 
sands of posters were placed all over the State by the station agents and other em- 
ployes of these roads. This was a most effective piece of publicity, done quickly 
and at just the right time. 

Operation of the Reserve in Illinois 

The headquarters of the U. S. Boys' Working Reserve were in rooms pro- 
vided by the Illinois State Council of Defense headquarters, 120 West Adams 
Street, Chicago. 

Associated with the Federal State Director of Illinois was an Executive Com- 
mittee composed of business men, each of whom volunteered to direct one branch 
of the work. This Executive Committee was : 

Burridge D. Butler, Federal State Director. 

Theodore C. Butz, Associate Director, County Organizations. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 209 

Charles Adkins, State Director of Agriculture. 

Paul E. Faust, Publicity Counsel. 

John Fletcher, Director, Farmers' Enrollment. 

Clifford V. Gregory, Agriculture Organizations. 

Samuel Insull, Chairman, Illinois State Council of Defense. 

W. L. Park, Placements and Transportation. 

Gordon A. Ramsay, Director, Boys' Enrollment. 

Robert L. Scott, Director, Inspection and Welfare. 

E. S. Simpson, Publicity Co-Operation. 
In organizing the State, the county was made the operating unit, and each 
county had a county director, who was the executive head and responsible for re- 
sults there. The County Director was also a member of the State Council's County 
Executive Committee. 

Perfecting the county organizations was the most difficult problem of the year, 
and the fact that it was possible to attain a high degree of efficiency in 82 out of 
102 counties in the State, speaks volumes for the patriotism and willingness ot 
the men who assumed the responsibility in their respective counties. 

With no funds to work with, the county directors in Illinois deserve the 
greater credit for what they accomplished. The State Council of Defense, from its 
limited funds, cheerfully met every demand made upon it at the State Director's 
office ; but the work could have been carried on many-fold more effectively had 
there been available for county co-operation the financial support received in other 
States where the legislatures met after the declaration of war and appropriated 
for this undertaking. 

An Outline of Reserve Work 

The Reserve work as carried out in Illinois may be classified under five head- 
ings : 

EnrolInicttt—rReaching the boy with patriotic appeal by publicitj^ op- 
erating through various educational agencies. 

Education — Training the boy in a practical way for his work ; also 
giving the right viewpoint to the prospective employer. 

Placing — Locating the job and getting the boy out on the job at the 
right time under proper conditions. 

Welfare — Looking after the boy with reference to his health and morals, 
and maintaining his enthusiasm and efficiency while at work. 

Credits — Keeping accurate records in order that proper Reserve and 
school credits may be accorded the boys at the end of the year. 

Enrollment of Boys for Farm Work 

During the winter months, while the boys were being enrolled in the Reserve 
and were receiving their farm craft lessons, a vigorous campaign was made among 
the farmers. Lining up farmers to take the boys was just as important. as enroll- 
ing the boys to go to the farms. At the end of April, thousands of boys had been 
enrolled, but places for them came in slowly, owing to the unusually favorable 
planting season. Boys who had taken the farm craft lessons, but despaired of 
getting placed had secured positions in war industries. In this way a considerable 
number of the boys enrolled were lost to the farmers in 1918. 

Agents were sent out to prevail upon the farmers to try the boys. At the end 
of May the tide had turned ; the boys already placed were making good, and every 
example of efficiency and serious work by one boy made an impression in the local- 
ity where he was ; hence the call for boys soon exceeded the enrollments reported 
from day to day. 

School principals were then called upon to make further enrollment. The re- 
sult of one meeting of the principals of the Chicago high schools was an added 
.enrollment of 800 boys for jobs, many of them leaving other positions to take up 
farm work. 

The enrollment eventually ran beyond the power of the schools and state or- 
ganizations to record and care for. On June 30, 1918, 799 out of 942 high schools 
in Illinois had reported an enrollment of 10,309, but it was known that thousands 



210 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

of boys had found jobs for themselves on farms, but would not be located until they 
returned to school in the fall and sought their credits. In addition to these, more 
than 2,000 boys were enrolled at the State Director's office, besides the library en- 
rollments and the enrollment at various employment agencies. 

About 1,000 were sent out of the State, 250 of whom went on a Food Admin- 
tration special train to help save the sugar beet crop in Michigan. This was an 
experiment outside of the Illinois plan of placing boys in farm homes to live with 
the families of farmers. In Michigan, these boys were located mostly in groups. 
One such camp had 30 boys working in the sugar beet fields near Mt. Clemens. 

A fine stimulant to enrollments was the parade of the members of the Reserve 
and their comrades of the Chicago high schools on April 2, 1918. The newspapers 
reported that 11,000 boys marched with banners and enthusiasm and many striking 
floats. 

Educational Work for Reserve 

No class of public servants was called upon to render greater service than 
teachers and principals. The Reserve educational work was heartily undertaken 
by them. When the schools convened after the winter semester, special classes 
were organized for agricultural instruction. In many cases, the boys put in extra 
hours each day; in others, they attended classes on Saturday to complete their 
school work by the end of April. 

In giving the practical work, the teachers took the boys to farms, livery barns, 
stock yards, and implement stores, where they were given an opportunity to accus- 
tom themselves to, and to work with, practical farm machinery. This plan of farm 
work study, it is believed, contributed greatly to the success of the year. In one 
school — Lane Technical High, of Chicago — a special course was conducted by 
Principal W. J. Bogan during the January vacation, at which practical agricultural 
men instructed a class of teachers to prepare them to teach the Farm Craft Les- 
sons. 

In this connection, the message to the farmers to induce them to try the boys 
was carried with convincing force to a somewhat skeptical audience of the leading 
farmers of the State. One committee, composed of John W. Kirkton, President of 
the Illinois Agricultural Association; Frank I. Mann, of the Illinois Farmers' In- 
stitute ; James P. Lyons, and others, visited the Chicago schools and sized up the 
boys. Their favorable report had great weight with farmers throughout the State. 

Placing the Boys on Farms 

The policy of the Illinois Reserve was, not to see how many boys could be 
placed, but how many boys could be well placed, under satisfactory conditions. 
The welfare phase of the work was always kept first in mind, and, while the Re- 
serve was an economic activity to provide labor, the health and moral welfare of" 
the boys had first consideration. 

A great majority of these splendid Reserve volunteers left home in 1918 for 
the first time in their lives to live among strangers, amid new surroundings. For a 
boy, such a change is not without some risk, and he must be safeguarded as far as 
possible. The policy of the Reserve in Illinois was to place the right boys with the 
right farmers. The greatest care, therefore, was exercised in placing the volunteer 
on a farm that would fit him, where he would be contented and do his best work. 

The boys went out into farm homes, which in most cases were as attractive and 
as pleasant as their own and had the home atmosphere, and where it was a privi- 
lege for any boy to reside for a few months. They saw the best in American life 
exemplified in the daily living of these families ; they had to be at their best to 
prove themselves welcome and worthy members of such families. 

The value of this association of the city boys with the farmers and their fam- 
ilies is apparent to every student of social and economic conditions. It should lead" 
to a better understanding between the city and country. 

Guarding the Welfare of the Boys 

The local welfare committee in each county passed upon the farm applications 
and undertook to look after the boys after thej- were placed. Co-operating in this 
work, the Reserve called to its aid all the best welfare interests in the State. The 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 211 

State Y. M. C. A. Secretary of County Work, Mr. Otis B. Read, gave much of his 
time exclusively to this as Field Director. Mr. F. A. Crosby, City Director of 
Boys' Work of the Y. M. C. A. of Chicago, was a constant co-worker with Mr. 
Robert L. Scott, Inspection and Welfare Director. Mr. Scott also had co-operat- 
ing with him Professor H. F. Scott, of Chicago University High School ; Professor 
George W. Frederich, of Chicago University High School ; Mr. F. I. Woodworth. 
of the Chicago Y. M. C. A. ; Mr. R. B. Ennis, and otljers. The Illinois Sunday 
School Association, through Mr. Charles E. Schenck, General Secretary, and Mr. 
Clarence L. DePew, auxiliary field workers, enrolled over 7,000 Sunday school 
superintendents throughout the State for co-operation in this welfare work. 

In each county, the welfare committee was appointed by the County Director, 
and was made up of experienced inen and women, the plan being to have some 
sympathetic welfare worker in each township where boys were employed. These 
were not in any sense inspectors or overseers, but sought out the boys and were 
instrumental in getting them in touch with the best social life of the community. 

Less than one per cent of the boys proved unworthy of their opportunities, and 
about the same proportion of farmers were found undeserving of having a good 
boy sent to them. In every case where one or the other "went wrong," an ad- 
justment satisfactory to the farmer and to the parents was effected through the 
Reserve. 

School Credits and Wages 

Following the recommendation of the Educational Committee, the high schools 
of the state, with few exceptions, gave credit in their course of study for the agri- 
cultural work done by the boys during the summer. Boys who stood well in their 
work were excused for May and" June, the agricultural course being completed in 
lieu of two months' school work. 

When the boys came back home frem the farms in the fall of 1918, upon com- 
pletion of at least six weeks of service, they received their Reserve and school 
credits. The reserve credit provided that when the boy had proven his fitness by 
actual service during the period stated, he was awarded the official bronze badge of 
the U. S. Boys' Working Reserve. This badge was the hrst official badge ever 
awarded by the government, except for military and naval service, and every patri- 
otic boy who earned one preserves it with pride and distinction. 

At the end of the year, for 12 weeks or more of service, and upon written 
recommendation of his county director, the boy received from his federal state 
director the bronze badge bar to be attached to the lower part of the badge, oh 
which was inscribed, "Honorable Service, 1918." A receipt was taken for this 
badge by the agelit of the United States government, and thus the boy's service 
record was preserved. 

The wages paid to the boys by the farmers necessarily varied, since dififerent 
kinds of work, dififerent localities, and experience dictated varying rates of com- 
pensation. The county director and the farmer arranged wages fairly, but the 
boy who went to a farm did not go primarily for an easy job or big wages. He 
went just as his big brother went to the trenches — to work hard and forfeit com- 
forts, if necessary, to serve his country in its hour of need. 

Reserve Results in Illinois 

How the U. S. Boys' Working Reserve in Illinois helped in 1918 to feed the 
world and win the great war is demonstrated by this summary : 

Number of boys in State eligible for farm work 105,000 

Number of boys enrolled in the Reserve 45,000 

Number of boys placed on farms 21,000 

Number of service badges awarded 11,374 

Number of service bars awarded 9.204 

Crops produced by boys' help, worth $23,000,000 

Boys earned for themselves 1,200,000 

Farm Craft Lessons supplied to schools, libraries, Y. M. C. A., 

boys' clubs and individuals 20,500 

To award the badges and bars properly, and to furnish the proof required by 
school autliorities before allowing school credits for farm work in lieu of the reg- 



212 STATE COUNCIL OP DEFENSE 

ular studies of the boys, it was necessary to secure from each farmer a "certificate 
of service" as to every member of the Reserve in high schools. This task involved 
an immense amount of clerical work at the Chicago headquarters and by county 
directors and school authorities. 

Each boy, when assigned to a farm job, was given a certificate to be signed by 
his employer upon relinquishing his job, but a majority of the boys forgot all about^ 
these certificates until they returned to school in the fall and found they lacked' 
credits for farm work. Thousands of letters written to employing farmers finally 
brought the necessary data to satisfy the school authorities as to credits earned, 
and to enable the boys to secure their bars and badges. Many thousands of boys 
failed to get badges because they worked less than the required minimum of six 
weeks. On the other hand, many boys have made farming their life vocation and 
are still working on the farms to which they were orginally assigned by the 
Reserve. 

How THE Boys Benefited 

Although the spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice impelled most of the boys 
to go to the farms — a wish to help otliers — the boys themselves received immeas- 
ureable benefit. From a physical standpoint they all gained. Their average in- 
crease in weight was 10 pounds during the average stay of six weeks. The biggest 
physical gain reported was an increase in height of 2^ inches and 16 pounds in 
weight, by a boy who worked 13 weeks on a farm. 

Other and more important benefits derived by the boys are perhaps best in- 
dicated in the following letter of James E. Armstrong, Assistant Superintendent of 
Schools, Chicago : 

"Burridge D. Butler, Federal State Director, 
U. S. Boys' Working Reserve, 
Chicago, 111. 
"My Dear Mr. Butler: 

"I have been very much ^impressed by the fact that the boys who went 
from our city high schools to the farms returned to school with a new 
earnestness of purpose never seen in them before. 

"Teachers have remarked to me frequently that these boys were not 
only greatly improved in their attitude toward their school work, but that 
they had imparted a new spirit to the other boys of the school. It seems 
as if the conscious effort on their part to do their bit in winning the war 
by helping the farmer raise feed to supply the world, and their contact 
with some of the real problems of life, have awakened in them a greater 
sense of responsibility. 

"If we can now take advantage of what we have gained by this experi- 
metn in boy training, we shall have made a real advance in our methods 
of education. We are grateful as school men to the United States Boys' 
Working Reserve for making all this possible. 

"J. E. Armstrong, Asst. Superintendent of Schools." 

Planning for 1919 Stimulated 

The records of the Reserve showed the enrollments and placements on farms 
in Illinois were the largest of any of the States. The Director of the Reserve 
believed there were probably 50,000 boys of Reserve age who were available and 
suitable for farm work — probably one-half of them in school and the other half 
employed in various non-productive occupations. 

With the success of the Illinois Reserve work in 1918 as a guide, it was be- 
lieved to be possible and practicable to place these 50,000 boys on farms during the 
crop season of 1919, returning them to their schools or other employment in the 
late fall, they constituting practically the only reservoir of surplus labor available 
for the war emergency. This was expected to be a leading factor in solving the 
prospective farm labor shortage of 1919, since the State Director also believed 
there were 50,000 farmers in Illinois who would co-operate. 
These facts had been demonstrated: 

1. That city and town boy labor (16 to 20 years) can be made prac- 
tical help to the farmer in the war-labor shortage. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 213 

2. That the intelligent educated farmers of the State are ready to 
co-operate and train the boys to be efficient farm helpers. 

3. That the school system of the State is an efficient agency to meet 
such a war emergency, enrolling the boy and giving him preparatory farm 
instruction. 

4. That the average farm home is a suitable place for the town boy 
and his association with farm life to be found on the average Illinois 
farm is alike beneficial to the boy and the farmer's family. 

5. That the activity has received throughout the State a degree of 
co-operation by serious-minded people that has made its success pos- 
sible and the boys have been a stimulant to all other war operations in 
the community. 

Consequences of the Armistice 

The splendid results attained during the spring, summer and fall of 1919 made 
the outlook for 1919 most promising for the Reserve. It had steadily grown in 
popularity among the boys, school authorities and farmers. A revised and ampli- 
fied ejJition of Farm Craft Lessons was being prepared by Dean Davenport and 
members of the faculty of the Illinois College of Agriculture, to be printed by the 
federal government and distributed to high schools, libraries, the Y. M. C. A. and 
boys' clubs. Plans of national, state and county officials for increasing the size 
and efficiency of the Reserve were being made. The Illinois Reserve had adopted 
the slogan : "Not an idle boy in Illinois until the war is over." 

Then came the armistice. Immediately ensued a general relaxation of pulilic 
interest in all activities born of the war, including the Reserve. Many men who 
had worked unceasingly for it during the war were obliged to devote themselves to 
business interests which they had neglected or sacrificed. School authorities gen- 
erally felt an obligation to enable the boys to make up for time lost from their 
studies while v>^orking on farms and while schools were closed because of the epi- 
demic of influenza. Throughout Illinois it was decided not to allow school credits 
in future for farm work, thus requiring the boys to remain in school until the close 
of the June term instead of permitting them to go to farms in March, April and 
May. Parents generally approved this plan to keep the boys in school, but many of 
the boys who had worked on farms did not like it; they wanted to go back to the 
farms in 1919. 

The Chicago high school principals adopted a compromise plan under which 
the boys could go to the farms in March, April or May, provided they returned to 
the summer term of school, beginning July 1, to make up their studies. An inten- 
sive course was arranged by which the boys in two months of summer school 
could do the work of three months iu a regular term, but this plan did not prove 
popular; less than 200 took advantage of it' Introduction of military training in 
all Chicago high schools, with arrangements for a military encampment during 
the summer vacation, also acted as a diversion. The federal government supplied 
the boys with uniforms, guns and equipment, so most boys chose military training 
instead of farm work for 1919. 

But cessation of hostilities in Europe by no means ended the chief aim of the 
Reserve — the production of food.^ On the contrary, the task became greater. In 
addition to our soldiers and sailors and our civilian population, the armies of our 
allies and their non-combatants had to be fed. To these millions, more millions 
were added by the crumbling of Central Powers. Food Administrator Hoover 
estimated in November, 1918, that the United States would have to send 25,000,000 
tons of food to Europe in 1919, as against 11,000,000 tons sent in 1918. 

These facts made Illinois workers for the Reserve determine to maintain the 
organization and its work as far as possible to insure the crops of 1919. It was 
felt that returned soldiers and sailors who wanted them should be the first to get 
farm jobs ; after them should come the boys obliged to support themselves or help 
support others, and finally the boys not obliged to earn money, but able and willing 
to do farm work. 

Continuing Reserve Work in 1919. 

With the double purpose of completing the service records of all Reserve boys 
who did farm work in 1918 and ascertaining the probable number of boys needed 



214 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

on farms in 1919, about 150,000 return postal cards were sent at the beginning of 
the year to Illinois farmers. Replies were received from 7,130, of whom 998 stated 
they would need boys of the Reserve at a stated time in 1919. Most of these calls 
for boys were afterwards cancelled, chiefly because farmers had planted wheat 
and other labor-saving crops, thus greatly reducing the acreage of corn, and be- 
cause released soldiers were returning to farm work. As a result of the postal 
card "census" and subsequent verification, 196 boys were placed. 

During April, May and June, 2,116 letters went to farmers with whom the Re- 
serve placed boys in 1918, and these brought calls for 87 boys. Letters to the 
county farm advisers led to the placing of a few more. A limited number of boys 
were placed through the co-operation of the county farm advisers with the Reserve. 
They appreciated the fact that the Reserve was the only organization furnishing 
experienced and inexperienced boys for farm work. 

Because of changed conditions from 1918, few farmers were willing to hire in 
1919 boys without practical farm experience. Hence it was impossible to find 
places for a large number of city boys who applied for farm jobs. Most of these 
were of the "under-privileged" class. Many said they wanted to get away from 
the temptations, bad influences and evil associates of the city. Some admitted they 
had yielded to temptation and feared they would get into trouble if they remained 
in the city. In every such case special efforts were made to secure a desirable job 
for the boy through the Junior Section of the U. S. Employment Service in Chi- 
cago. Police records show that 80 per cent of the crimes in Chicago, from petty 
larceny to highway robbery and murder, are committed by boys between the age^ 
of 14 and 20 years. If farms were established by county, state or federal govern- 
ment, to which boys could be sent and given farm training and proper supervision, 
they would profit greatly both physically and morally and would oecome respec- 
table, uesful citizens instead of criminals. The Reserve could not help the boys 
who most needed help because it dared not send such boys into farm homes. 

Enrollment for 1919 Incomplete 

Because so many county directors of the Reserve were obliged to give up this 
work after the armistice, and because school principals failed to furnish the data 
requested, it is impossible to give a complete report — except for Cook County, in- 
cluding Chicago — of the number of Reserve boys working on Illinois farms in 
1919. Reports, as far as received, indicate that outside of Cook County a good 
share of the boys who enrolled in the Reserve last year but did not sign new enroll- 
ment cards for this year are again working on farms. Even in Cook County many 
high school boys did not enroll in the Reserve for 1919 until they applied to the 
Chicago headquarters for farm positions. 

The total number of enrollment cards for 1919 received and on file at the 
State headqauters up to June 30, 1919, was 907, of which 302 were of boys in high 
schools of Cook County, including Chicago. A census of the Chicago high schools 
in May showed a total of 750 boys willing to go to the farms if needed. Of the 
302 Cook County high school boys actually enrolled, 239 were assigned to farm 
jobs from January 1 to June 30, 1919. During March, April and May, every appli- 
cation to State headquarters for a boy for farm work was filed without delay. The 
placement of boys on farms by months, and sources of supply, were : 
Cook County Not in Outside Cook 

Month High Schools School County Total 

January 3 3 

February IS 15 

March 7 67 74 

April 40 S3 41 134 

May 46 74 33 1S3 

*June 74 43 ♦VO 187 

167 2S5 144 S66 



*Last 3 days estimated. 

•♦Report of Colonel Davis of Springfield. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 215 

I wish to express appreciation of tlie co-operation received from the various 
agricultural activities of the State while the war was on. The farmers, at first, 
were skeptical about the idea that the city boys would be of any real help on the 
farm. They had in mind the rolicking, thoughtless vacation bo}' of peace times ; 
but when the leaders of agriculture saw the serious way in which the boys rallied 
to the calls of the President and the Governor, and the practical manner in which 
the schools of the State set out to give these boys their preliminary training (and 
with the increased shortage of labor), there came a change of attitude on the part 
of the farmer toward the Reserve. 

"We laughed at the school boys in the winter, but in the summer we thanked 
God for them." remarked a prominent farmer recently. "The boys were a real 
help, and this sentiment is general all o\'er the State." 

This arnty of patriotic young men, the U. S. Boys' Working Reserve of Illinois, 
answered the war call of the President "to go in hosts to the farms" and produced 
food to the amount of $23,000,000 by the end of their service in 1918 — suflficient 
to feed the soldiers whom Illinois had sent to the war. It is a record to be proud 
of. Respectfully submitted, 

BuRRiDGE D. Butler, Federal State Director. 



APPENDIX XV 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON FUEL FOR PUBLIC AND QUASI-PUBLIC 

INSTITUTIONS. 

January 16, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defefise: 

By request of Mr. J. E. Williams, Federal Fuel Administrator of Illinois, this 
committee was appointed on November 8, 1917, and was made up of the following: 

John F. Gilchrist (Chairman), Vice-President of Commonwealth- 
Edison Company, Chicago. 

Charles A. Lind (Secretary), Fuel Agent of Commonwealth-Edison 
Company. 

Frank I. Bennett, Commissioner of Public Works, Citj' of Chicago. 

John Ericson, City Engineer, City of Chicago. 

Henry A. Zender, Superintendent of Public Service of Cook County. 

Wallace G. Clark, Chairman of Engineering Committee of the Sani- 
tary District of Chicago. 

Percy B. Coffin, Business Manager of Chicago Board of Education. 

E. J. E. Ward, Vice-President of Peoples Gas, Light and Coke Com- 
pany, Chicago. 

Frank J. Baker, Vice-President of Public Service Company of 
Northern Illinois. 

Martin J. Insull, Vice-President of Middle West Utilities Company. 

Writing to Mr. Williams under date of November 8, 1917, Mr. Insull said: 
"I have asked these gentlemen to take in hand the matter referred to in your 
letter of the 31st ult, and have informed them that from my conversations with 
you I gather that you desire information collected as to the distribution of fuel to 
Federal and state institutions, municipal bodies,, public-service organizations, 
whether owned publicly or privately, hospitals and other local charities." 

Under the direction of Chairman Gilchrist, the committee began work at once. 
It was well that it did so, for it turned out that the winter of 1917-1918 was an 
exceptionally severe one. 

The first meeting of the committee was held on November 10, and a few days 
later circular letters were sent out to the municipal authorities of 187 cities and 
villages in the state of Illinois having a population of over 2,000 inhabitants. Simi- 
lar letters were also sent to 489 public-utility and other public organizations in the 
state asking for information in relation to the coal situation. City or village au- 
thorities were asked for information in relation to city buildings, hospitals, 
schools, etc. 

Reports received showed that whereas the total monthly requirements listed 
were 217,502 tons, the total coal on hand was 156,185 tons, or about 21^/^ days' 
supply. It was found that in the case of 42 municipalities and utilities the supply 
of fuel on hand would last less than two weeks at the normal rate of consump- 
tion. Letters were written to these 42 consumers calling their attention to the 
small amount of coal on hand and urging them to obtain an additional supply with- 
out delay. 

During the month of December 185 United States Fuel Administration Cir- 
culars in relation to speeding up the unloading of cars were sent to various public- 
utility companies in the state. 

In January, 1918, almost unprecedented severity of weather put the transpor- 
tation and fuel resources of the state to a war-time test such as had never been 
known before. The committee was able to be of much assistance to public utili- 
ties and public institutions during this trying time. Tabulating all its work in 

216 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 217 

obtaining emergency coal for the. period from November, 1917, to June, 1918, it is 
found that the sub-committee was of assistance in this way to institutions listed 
as follows : 

State Institutions 11 

Gas Plants 37 

Electric PlaJits 44 

Water Works 10 

Hospitals 19 

Schools 17 

Relief coal for County Poor (Number of Districts) 23 

Miscellaneous 20 

Total 181 

In February, 1918, circular leters were sent to the various gas companies in the 
state advising them that in case they should find it impossible to obtain Kentucky 
or Eastern gas coal, the sub-committee would, through the Fuel Administrator, 
endeavor to ship coal from Franklin County, Illinois, as a substitute. 

After the winter was over the sub-committee did not relax its efforts. Dur- 
ing the month of May, 1918, circular letters recommending at least a three-month 
supply of coal for storage were sent to 489 public-utility enterprises and other 
public institutions of various kinds in the state. Letters were sent to the public 
utilities of the state askmg for their earnest co-operation in the matter of conserv- 
ing fuel. 

The committee continued its activities in preparation for the winter of 
1918-19 until the signing of the armistice and cessation of work by the State Coun- 
cil of Defense automatically discharged its members from service. 

Respectfully submitted, 

John F. Gilchrist, Chairman. 



APPENDIX XVI 

COMMITTEE ON FUEL ECONOMIES OF ELECTRIC RAILWAYS. 

December 2, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

Following is a Report of the Committee on Fuel Economies of Electric Rail- 
ways, appointed by your authority December 13, 1917 : 

The committee met on December 15 and organized, and the secretary was 
instructed to request all electric railway companies operating in the State to sub- 
mit estimates of the number of tons of coal that could be saved annually by the 
following methods : 

First — By elimination of unnecessary car service. 

Second — By reduction in amount of electricity used for heating cars. 

At a meeting of your committee on December 18 analysis of replies to the 
committee's questionnaire convinced your committee that electric railroads af- 
forded an opportunity for material savings in coal by reduction in unnecessary 
schedules, car heating, elimination of unnecessary stops, etc. 

In estimating these savings in fuel your committee avoided suggesting changes 
in the service which would result in a serious inconvenience to the traveling public. 

At the request of the Chairman of the State Council of Defense, the com- 
mittee met again on January 5th, 1918. In addition to the members of the com- 
njittee, there were in attendance Prof. Stock, of the University of Illinois, repre- 
senting Mr. J. E. Williams, State Federal Fuel Administrator, and Hon. P. J. 
Lucey of the Illinois Public Utilities Commission. 

For the information of Prof. Stock and Mr. Lucey, the previous work of 
this committee was explained in detail and fully discussed. 

As a result of its investigation, this committee believed that very substantial 
savings in coal could be effected by the following means : 

1. Elimination of unnecessary service. 

2. Securing the co-operation of train crews in bringing about the 
most efficient operation through the careful handling of trains and the 
maximum amount of coasting. 

3. Elimination "of unnecessary stops. 

4. Adoption of the so-called "skip-stop" plan in municipalities. 

5. Care in the operation of electric car heaters while cars are in 
service, to avoid waste. 

6. Securing the co-operation of car shop employes in the elimination 
of waste caused by the burning of electric lights and the operation of the 
electric heaters in cars when cars are out of service. 

7. Securing the co-operation of power house employes for careful 
and efficient firing in the boiler room. 

8. Careful supervision of coal consumed in stationary boiler plants 
for the heating of stations, shops or other buildings and of hot water or 
stove heaters used in cars. 

Replies had been received from twenty-eight of the forty-nine companies to 
whom inquiry blanks were sent, and a tabulation of their replies indicated that the 
very substantial sum of approximately 60,000 tons of coal could be saved annually 
by carrying out the above suggestions, without any material inconvenience or dis- 
comfort to the public. 

In the judgment of the committee it was most important that prompt action 

218 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 219 

be taken to secure the maximum saving in coal, and the following resolution was 

therefore unanimously adopted : 

"That the committee recommends that the State Council of Deiense 
take appropriate action to secure the co-operation of the Fuel Administra- 
tion in putting into effect the economies set forth in the report of this com- 
mittee by having the Federal Fuel Administration issue a bulletin instruct- 
ing the local Fuel Administrators throughout the State to take such steps 
as may be necessary to make these economies effective ; and, further, 
that the State Council of Defense notify the State Public Utilities Com- 
mission of Illinois of the saving in coal that can be made as set out in the 
report of this committee, with the request that such commission issue in- 
structions to the electric railroads of the State of Illinois and to the 
proper municipal officers within the State in an effort to bring about the 
maximum saving in coal. 

E. C. Faber, Chairman; 
Brixton I. Budd, 

C. F. Handshv, 
L. A. Busby, 

D. E. Parsons, 

J, R. Blackhall, Secretary. 
We concur in the above resolution. 

H. H. Stoek, 
Representing State Fuel Administrator. 

P. J. LUCEY, 
Representing State Public Utilities Commission. 

The committee conferred with Messrs. Williams, Stock and Lucey on 
February 2nd. After discussion of recommendation contained in the report 
referred to above, the meeting adjourned without any further action being taken. 

The committees' recommendations were not put into effect by the Federal 
Fuel Administrator, but the "skip-stop" was later adopted by the "Chicago Surface 
Lines, and elsewhere. 

The committee, not being informed of further action that would give effect 
to its recomemndations, considered its work completed and held no further meet- 
ings during the balance of the year. 

Respectfully submitted, 

J. R. Blackhall, Secretary. 



APPENDIX XVII 

COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS STATE AND 
LOCAL DEFENSE 

This review of the work done by the Committee on Military Affairs State 
and Local Defense, a Standing Committee of the State Council of Defense, is in 
two parts. The first part is a report by the committee covering the period from 
organization of the committee to June 20, 1918. The second part carries the 
work of the committee from June 20, 1918, to December 31, 1918, or the end of 
its active life, to which is appended the report of the committee's auxiliary in 
Cook County, the Military Affairs Committee of Cook County. 

REPORT OF THE MILITARY COMMITTEE FOR THE PERIOD FROM 
MAY 23, 1917, TO JUNE 20, 1918. 

June 20, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

Pursuant to your directions that the Military Committee of the State Council 
of Defense file with you a complete report of the operations of said committee 
from its inception, May 23, 1917, I have the honor to present to you such report in 
detail as follows : 

On May 23, 1917, at a conference held in the office of the Governor of Illinois, 
participated in by Governor Lowden, Lieutenant-Governor Oglesby, Chairman of 
the Military Committeee of the State Council of Defense, and General Dickson, 
the Adjutant General of Illinois, the defense situation of the State was discussed 
with the hereinafter stated results : 

First — Following this preliminary conference plans for the organization of a 
Volunteer Training Corps, under the supervision of the State Council of Defense 
of Illinois, were adopted, which plans were approved by the War Department, 
shown by the following telegrams from the Adjutant General of Illinois to the 
Secretary of War, and reply thereto : 

May 14, 1917. 
Secretary of War, through Chief, Militia Bureau, War Department, 
Washington, D. C: 

I am directed by Acting Governor Oglesby, who is also Chairman, 
Military Committee, State Council of Defense, Illinois, to submit to your 
attention the Council of Defense favorably considered plan, to organize 
at different points in Illinois purely volunteer organizations for training 
and drill, the uniforming and arming of which organizations would be 
taken care of by organizations themselves as public-spirited citizens. The 
plan contemplates selection of officers by recommendation of members of 
respective organizations, approved of the Adjutant General, and confirma- 
tion by State Council of Defense. No expense incident to the organiza- 
tions or maintenance, uniforming or arming of such volunteer organiza- 
tions to be a Federal charge. It is felt by the Council of Defense that such 
organizations would result in at least partial training and preparation 
and an incentive to, and concrete evidence of, patriotic service in the vari- 
ous localities throughout the State. 

I am directed to request information whether or not the pro- 
posed plan meets with the approval of the Secretary of War and whether 
there will be any Federal objection to it either from legal viewpoint or 
viewpoint of public policy. Inasmuch as committee of this State Council 

220 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 221 

of Defense having this matter in hand will meet in Springfield tomorrow 
I respectfully request reply in such time as will permit me to present 
to said committee the conclusion of the Federal Government. 

F. S. Dickson, Adjutant General. 
The following reply was received : 

Washington. D. C, May 15, 1917. 
Adjt. Gen. Ill, Spnngficld, 111. 

War Department has no objection to plan outlined your telegram of 
fourteenth. The law enacted by Congress relative to raising Federal 
forces cannot of course be modified on account of any purely local 
organizations. It is understood that a measure is now pending before 
Congress providing for arming local bodies of this nature. 

Mann, Chief Militia Bureau. 

Second — Your Military Committee submitted its plan to the State Council of 
Defense and it was by the State Council of Defense approved and adopted and 
your Military Committee at once began the actual operations under the plan 
approved as follows : 

"The Federal Government has officially advised that the present National 
Guard units of Illinois will be drafted into the Federal Service about July 25, 
1917, and after approximately ten days in their organization rendezvous will 
be transferred out of the state to concentration camps in the southern depart- 
ment. This includes both the National Guard of the State not now in the Federal 
Service and the three regiments of the National Guard of the State which were 
recently called into the Federal Service for the purpose of affording necessary 
protection within the State to various industries, utilities and public works. 
When this action sliall have been taken it is obvious that unless proper action 
is had, the State will be without a force to render that protection and enforce- 
ment of law to which its people are entitled, and for which responsibility rests 
on the constituted authorities to provide. To meet this emergency it is pro- 
posed to create a brigade organization. The number of regiments which shall be 
three, organized in units at minimum peace strength, properly equipped and 
trained for the purpose of purely State defense. In addition, the State Council 
of Defense will proceed with the enrollment and organization of voluntary train- 
ing corps throughout the State in line with the plan announced by the State 
Council of Defense last week covering this voluntary training service. When 
the State Council of Defense has perfected a voluntary training unit in line with 
the announced plan the same will be tendered by them to the State for accept- 
ance into the reserve militia to be raised from the unorganized militia of the 
State. In the creation of this reserve militia the voluntary training units organ- 
ized b}^ the State Council of Defense will be given preference by the Governor 
as commander-in-chief. The proposed act creating the Reserve Militia organi- 
zations will in general provide that whenever the Governor shall deem it neces- 
sary in the execution of the law of the state to call an additional force into 
the service of the state for state purposes, he may issue a proclamation calling 
into such service the organizations of the Reserve Militia organized in neces- 
sary units, under such rules and regulations as shall be promulgated by the 
Adjutant General and approved by the Governor; and further that all such 
necessary reserve units thus organized for the purpose of state defence may be 
disbanded or mustered out or discharged, when in the judgment of the Governor 
the emergency or conditions making necessary the call shall have passed or 
changed. These reserve organizations being subject to call only in an emer- 
gency, their preliminarj^ equipment and maintenance is to be without expense to 
the state, as outlined in the plan of the State Council of Defense, but when called 
into actual service of the state for purposes of drill or of actual service, the 
state assumes transportation, subsistence and maintenance of units thus called, 
and pay at the same rate as provided for officers and enlisted men in active 
service by tine federal government by legislation just passed by Congress creating 
the National Army." 

In conformity with this determination your Military Committee prepared 
and had introduced into the General Assembly of Illinois, Senate Bill 589, which 



222 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

was passed and became a law, creating the Reserve Militia from the unorgan- 
ized militia of the state, and for which the State Council of Defense Volunteer 
Training Corps is a feeder. 

Find herewith attached copy of Senate Bill 589. 

A Bill 

For an Act to provide for the organization of reserve 
militia from the unorganized militia of the State. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, rep- 
resented in the General Assembly : That whenever the Governor as 
Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State, shall 
deem it necessary or advisable for the purpose of executing the laws of 
the State, or of preventing the actual or threatened violation thereof, 
or any other emergency, or of suppressing actual or threatened insurrec- 
tion or riots, or when the nation is at war and a requisition or order 
has been made, or is likely to be matle, by the President of the United 
States callirrg the National Guard, or parts thereof, into the national 
service, he may issue a proclamation or call for volunteer companies, 
battalions, regiments, brigades, or other units of land forces to be known 
as the Reserve MHitia which shall be formed from and out of the unor- 
ganized militia of the State. 

Section 2. The Governor shall determine and shall fix in any such 
proclamation or call the number of such volunteers, their term of enlist- 
ment, and the kind and number of such units to be called for and organ- 
ized, and he shall appoint and authorize officers' to recruit and enroll 
such volunteers under such rules and regulations as shall be fixed and 
promulgated by the Adjutant General with the approval of the Governor: 
Provided, that no such term of enlistment shall be for a longer term than 
two years ; and, provided, further, that any and all such units may be 
disbanded or mustered out, and any and all of such volunteers may be 
discharged, when in the judgment of the Governor the emergency or the 
conditions making such organizations necessary, or advisable shall have 
passed or changed. 

Section 3. Every person so enrolling or enlisting in the reserve 
militia shall sign an enlistment paper in the form prescribed by the 
Adjutant General and shall take the following oath or affirmation, which 
may be administered by any such duly appointed recruiting or enrolling 
officer or any commissioned officer in the reserve militia : 

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will true allegiance bear to 
the State of Illinois, and that I will uphold its Constitution and laws 
and will serve it faithfully; that I will obey orders of the Commander- 
in-Chief and of such officers as may be placed over me, and the laws, 
rules and regulations of the reserve militia, so help me God." 

Section 4. The Governor, as Commander-in-Chief, shall make all 
appointments to commissioned rank in the reserve militia. Commissions 
evidencing all appointments shall be signed by the Governor and shall 
be attested and issued by the Adjutant General. All non-commissioned 
and petty officers shall be appointed in accordance with the rules and 
regulations promulgated by the Adjutant General. 

Commissions to officers shall read to a certain grade in a given 
regiment, battalion, company or other unit of the reserve militia, and 
assignment of such officers to duty in any unit shall be by the Com- 
mander-in-Chief. The validity of all commissions shall be subject to 
formal acceptance and the execution of oath prescribed by law or by 
the rules and regulations promulgated by the Adjutant General. 

Section 5. Each and every enrolled man who shall leave or sever 
his connection with the reserve militia shall be entitled to and shall 
receive a discharge in accordance with the rules and regulations to be 
promulgated by the Adjutant General with the approval of the Governor, 
and such rules and regulations shall provide the conditions and circum- 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 223 

stances under which he may leave, retire from, or be discharged from 
the reserve militia. 

Section 6. The organization, equipment and maintenance of the 
reserve militia shall be without expense to the State : 

Provided that if the Governor, as Commander-in-Chief, shall call 
the reserve militia, or any part thereof, into the actual service of tlie 
State, or to assemble in State or district encampments for the purpose 
of drill, discipline and increase of efficiency, the State shall pay the cost 
of travel and maintenance and shall pay the officers at the rate which is 
now or hereafter may be allowed to the officers in the National Guard 
while in similar service of the State, and the enlisted men while in the 
actual service of the State shall receive pay at the rate of one dollar 
per day. 

Section 7. The uniforms, arms and other equipment of the reserve 
militia, the minimum number of meetings for instruction, drill and train- 
ing of the various units thereof, the character of such instruction and 
training, and all other matters and things necessary or desirable for the 
complete organization, discipline and efficiency of the reserve militia, not 
otherwise provided for and covered in this Act, shall be prescribed and 
carried into effect by and through rules and regulations promulgated 
liy the Adjutant General and approved by the Governor. 

Section 8. Whereas, an emergency exists; this law shall take effect 
from and after its passage and approval. 

Your Committee also had prepared and introduced Senate Bill 587, which 
became a law, and copy of which is attached, providing for an appropriation of 
$750,000 to take care of the new brigade of National Guard, organized for 
purely State service. 

A Bill 

For an Act to appropriate the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand 
dollars for the supply, clothing, equipment, pay, transportation, prep- 
aration of camp sites and cantonments, mobilization, subsistence 
and incidental expenses for the National Guard and Naval Militia, 
volunteers or other organizations of Illinois authorized, organized or 
furnished by the State on a call, order, request or requisition made 
or hereafter made or issued by the President of the United States 
or organized, authorized or ordered for duty by the Governor. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly: That the sum of seven hundred 
fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby 
appropriated for tlie supply, clothing, equipment, pay, transportation, 
preparation of camp sites and cantonments, mobilization, subsistence and 
incidental expenses of the National Guard and Naval Militia, volun- 
teers or other organizations of this State, authorized, organized or 
furnished by the State on a call, orders, request or requisition made 
or hereafter made or- issued by the President of the United States, or 
organized, authorized or ordered for duty by the Governor. 

Sec. 2. The auditor of Public Accounts is hereby authorized and 
directed to draw his warrant for the sum herein specified upon the 
presentation of proper vouchers certified to by the Adjutant General and 
approved by the Governor, and the Treasurer shall pay the same out 
of any money in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated. 

Sec. 3. Whereas, an emergency exists, this law shall take effect 
from and after its passage and approval. 

And your Committee prepared and introduced Senate Bill 592, which became 
a law and copy of which is herewith attached, which provides that the pay of the 
enlisted men of the National Guard, when in the service of the state during the 
duration of the present war, shall be $1.00 per day instead of $3.00 per day as 
formerly provided. 



224 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

A Bill 

For an Act to amend section 4 of article 16 of "An Act to establish a 
military and naval code for the State of Illinois and to repeal all 
Acts in conflict therewith," approved June 10, 1909, in force July 1, 
1909. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, rep- 
resented in the General Assembly: That section four (4) of an Act 
entitled, "An Act to establish a military and naval code for the State 
of Illinois and to repeal all Acts in conflict therewith," approved June 
10, 1909, in force July 1, 1909, be and the same is hereby amended 
to read as follows : 

"Sec. 4. Enlisted men of the National Guard and Naval Reserve, 
shall receive per day, for services actually performed when on active 
service for suppression of riot and for the enforcement of the laws, 
according to their respective grades as follows: 

a. Sergeants, major, quartermaster, commissary and ordnance 
sergeants, of or attached to tlie division, brigades, regiments or separate 
battalions ; first class signal and hospital corps sergeants, chief trumpeters 
and principal musicians, first sergeants and company quartermaster ser- 
geants, drum majors and color sergeants in the National Guard, and 
chief petty officers and petty officers, first class in the seaman branch of 
the Naval Reserve, $2.75. 

b. Battalion sergeants, major and trumpeter sergeants, chief 
mechanics of batteries, sergeants of the hospital and signal corps, 
and of the line in the National Guard, petty officers, first class except in 
the seaman branch, and petty officers, second class, in the Naval Reserve, 
$2.60. 

c. Corporals, cooks, musicians and mechanics in the National 
Guard and petty officers, third class, and buglers, in the Naval 
Reserve, $2.25. 

d. Privates and seamen, all grades, $2.00: Provided, that from and 
after the passage of this Act and until the determination of the National 
emergency as set forth in the Act of Congress entitled, "An Act to 
authorize the President to increase temporarily the military establishment 
of the United States," approved by Preside-nt May i8, 1917, the pay 
of enlisted men of the National Guard and Naval Militia while in active 
service of the State shall be at the rate of $1.00 per day. 

Sec. 2. Whereas, an emergency exists; this law shall take effect 
from and after its passage and approval. 

With reference to the State Council of Defense Volunteer Training Corps, 
I attadi a copy of Circular No. 1, which sets forth the aims, purposes and the 
regulations of such corps : 

Circular No. 1 — volunteer tr.a.ining corps 

1. — This organization shall be known as the State Council of Defense 
Volunteer Training Corps. Its object shall be: 

A — The security of the State by cooperating with the military and 
police authorities in guarding bridges, public buildings and industrial 
plants, patrolling towns, surrounding country, rivers, harbors, etc., and 
in general act as an emergency body. 

B — To assist in carrying out the object sought in the forma- 
tion of the State Council of Defense. 

C — The encouragement of recruiting in the regular service and 
the National Guard, and the Volunteer Army, Navy and Marine 
Corps of the United States and the assistance in the preparation of 
men subject to the selective draft, the dissemination of military knowl- 
edge and for the general upbuilding of the physical character of the 
citizens of the State. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 225 

2. — No city or town shall be recognized as a post of the State Council 
of Defense Volunteer Training Corps which does not organize and 
maintain at least one company of the minimum strength of 1 captain, 1 
first lieutenant, 1 second lieutenant, 4 sergeants, 8 corporals and 65 pri- 
vates. 

3.— The State Council of Defense may consolidate, transfer, muster 
out, disband, muster in new organizations to replace those mustered 
out or disbanded, and make such other changes in the organization of 
the Volunteer Training Corps as the best interests of the service may 
require. The Volunteer Training Corps in all of its units, divisions, 
branches and officers, shall, at all times, and in all respects, be subject 
to the control, direction and orders of the State Council of Defense. 

4. — All units to be organized and operated under recognized mili- 
tary methods, except that local units will report direct to the Military 
Committee of the State Council of Defense, and the organization, dis- 
cipline, government and equipment, as far as practicable, not in conflict 
with law, shall conform to the regulations, customs, and usages of the 
Army and Navy of the United States or of the regulations of the Illi- 
nois National Guard. 

5. — The State Council of Defense shall appoint and commission, 
upon the recommendation of the Adjutant General, officers to com- 
mand the various units of this organization, and shall reserve the right 
to accept resignations or vacate commissions, and may accept the offi- 
cers and men of completely organized units, if such organizations meet 
with their approval. 

6. — Any able-bodied man of good character, between the ages of 18 
and 55, and who is a citizen of the United States, or has declared his 
intention to become such, may be enrolled in the State Council of 
Defense Volunteer Training Corps. Any person so enrolled may, if in 
good standing, the question of good standing to be determined by the 
commanding officer of the unit, resign from the State Training Corps. 

7. — ^A man who has been dishonorably discharged from any mili- 
tary or naval organization of this State or of the United States, shall 
not be eligible for enrollment, unless such dishonorable discharge shall 
have been removed by competent authority. 

8. — In the formation of the Reserve Militia authorized by law, the 
State Council of Defense Training Corps units will be given preference 
by the Commander-in-Chief. 

9. — Units must drill not less than one period of two hours per 
week and must maintain an average attendance of not less than 60 
per cent. Failure to maintain this average may cause the disbandment 
of the organization by the Military Committee of the State Council of 
Defense. 

10. — A distinctive uniform will be adopted, which shall consist of 
campaign hat, breeches, blouse, leggings and shirt. 

11. — The organization, equipment and maintenance of the Training 
Corps shall be without expense to the State Council of Defense. 

12. — The State Council of Defense may give to each man in the 
service an appropriate decoration which he shall wear at all times when 
in uniform and at such other times as he may wish. Such decoration 
to consist of the Seal of the State Council of Defense surrounded by the 
words "The State Council of Defense Training Corps," to be made of 
such suitable material as the State Council of Defense shall decide. 
Upon determination of service and upon the receipt of an honorable dis- 
charge, such decoration shall become the personal property of such man. 

13. — No military organization other than the Council of Defense 
Training Corps will be recognized by the State or allowed to drill in 
uniform or use arms, except such organizations as are now, or may be 
hereinafter recognized by law. 

14. — Local committees of citizens may be organized to assist finan- 
cially and otherwise in the carrying out of these plans. Service in the 



226 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Corps does not carry any other responsibility than state-wide service 
within the State of Illinois under order of the State Council of De- 
fense. 

IS. — The only punishment for disobedience or infraction of discipline 
shall be dishonorable discharge from the service and publication of such 
discharge. 

16. — No remuneration shall be paid to any officer or private of this 
organization, except such men as the State Council of Defense may 
decide necessary to the carrying out of its plans. 

17. — The State Council of Defense will recognize as many units 
formed in the same territorial or municipal division as may comply 
with these rules and the orders of the State Council of Defense. 

18. — All requests for approval of the formation of units shall be 
addressed to John G. Oglesby, Chairman of the Military Committee, 
State Capitol, Springfield, Illinois. 

By direction of the State Council of Defense. 

John G. Oglesby, 
Chairman, Military Committee. 
Approved : 

Samuel Insull, 
Chairman, State Council of Defense. 

Uniforming the Reserve 

After conference with the Adjutant General and with the War Department 
through the proper military channels as to the type of uniform to be desig- 
nated for the use of these volunteer training corps units the uniform set forth 
in the attached circular issued by the Military Committee was adopted as the 
uniform of the Volunteer Training Corps and by order of the Adjutant General 
of Illinois, with the approval of the Governor; this same uniform was adopted 
as the regulation uniform of the Reserve Militia of the State of Illinois. 

Officer's Equipment 

Black silk four-in-hand tie will be worn both by officers and enlisted 
men. 

Overcoats — regulation U. S. Army. 

Sweaters and sweater vest in olive drab color. 

(Ponchos and rain slickersi — regular army style). 

Officers are permitted to wear O. D. wool serge or O. D. cotton 
khaki, uniform style as illustrated. 

Uniform coats are to have large bellows pockets, the body longer 
than the regular army coat, and with rolling collar having a vent or open- 
ing in the back of coat. 

Breeches, ponchos, raincoats, cap, hat, shoes, puttees, to be regulation 
army officers' style. 

Officers will wear braid on their coat sleeves, as worn by regular 
army officers. 

Hat cords to be regular army style, gold tinsel and black, excepting 
the slide and acorn, which will be black. 

Belts to be tan leather, two inches wide, double-prong bronze buckle. 

Buttons on uniforms to be Illinois State Button. Regulation four- 
button blouse. 

The rank of non-commissioned officer will be indicated by chevrons 
on both sleeves of the coat on the upper arm, midway between the elbow 
and the shoulder. 

Chevrons will be made of O. D. cloth, army regulation styles ; they 
will be sewn on the sleeves, the stripes in an inverted V-shape, the space 
of one-eighth of an inch between each, indicating the rank as follows : 

Corporal two stripes 

Sergeant three stripes 

First Sergeant three stripes, with diamond 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 227 

Insignia of officers to be as that of the regular army: 

First Lieutenant one bar 

Second Lieutenant no bar 

Captain two bars 

Major - -gold leaf 

Lieutenant Colonel silver leaf 

Colonel - silver eagle 

V. T. C. insignia will be worn by officers on the right side of 
coat collar and crossed rifles on the left side. 

Sergeants' belt for side-arms, same as regular army. 

Spread eagle insignia to be worn on officers' caps. 

State Council of Defense shield to be worn by each member on 

the left breast-pocket flap. 

In addition, each member of the State Council of Defense will wear 

the insignia of the State Council of Defense, to be furnished by the 

State Council. 

Enlisted Man's Equipment 

The Federal Law of June 3, 1916, makes it necessary for the 
training corps to wear a uniform distinctive from that used by the 
Army or National Guard. 
Hat — Campaign, peaked. 
Hat Cord — White and Jersey blue. 

Coat — Cotton khaki, rolling collar, lapels, open at throat and 
neck, four pockets. United States standard grade of cloth 
for Army as provided by Quartermaster's Department of 
Army. 
Buttons — Bronze. III. State Button regulation. 
Breeches — Cotton khaki. United States standard grade of cloth 
for Army as provided by Quartermaster's Department of Army. 
Lcggins — Canvas, laced. 
Shoes — Tan. 

Shirt — Flannel or khaki. 

State Council of Defense shield to be worn by each member on the 
left breast-pocket flap. 

Third — After the perfection of this plan and the publication of it through the 
State at large, the requests for recognition as voluntary units under the super- 
vision of the State Council of Defense were exceedingly numerous, showing 
that the citizenry of Illinois was founded upon deep patriotism and public-spir- 
itedness. 

Fourth — It was soon discovered in the actual workings of this scheme that 
the best results would be obtained by having two divisions, namely: Division 
No. 1, the State at large, and Division No. 2, Chicago and Cook County. 

Division No. 1 — State at Large 

The headquarters of this division were at Springfield. The units requesting 
recognition by the State Council of Defense were as follows : 

Number of _ Strength of Number of Strength of 

Unit Location Company Unit Location Company 

14 Sterling 66 45 Lexington 83 

15 Naperville 66 46 Gardner 85 

16 Sheldon 70 47 Geneva 62 

17 Yorkville 71 48 New Holland 70 

20 Carbondale 70 49 Joliet 80 

21 Alton 66 50 Lincoln 53 
23 Sterling 68 51 Springfield 65 

10 E. St. Louis 100 52 Dwight 148 

11 E. St. Louis 100 53 Pekin 113 

12 E. St. Louis 100 54 Minooka 79 

18 Cairo 106 55 St. Joseph 68 
9 Alton 80 56 Barry 65 
1 Springfield 80 57 Griggsville (Not 65 

5 Lincoln 80 yet recognized) 

6 Elgin 65 58 Perry 65 

7 Milford 65 59 Meredosia 65 
4 Taylorville 6S 60 Eraden 65 



228 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



Number oj 




Strength of 


Number of 




Strength of 


Unit 


Location 


Company 


Unit 


Location 


Company 


22 


Johnston City 


65 


61 


Chestnut 


65 


16 


MoHne 


65 


62 


Mazon 


82 


3 


Wheaton 


65 


63 


Middletown 


65 


19 


Gibson City 


104 


64 


Kankakee 


65 


8 


Golden 


72 


65 


Kankakee 


65 


2 


Decatur 


65 


66 


Kankakee 


65 


22 


Lawrenceville 


51 


67 


Aurora 


59 


23 


Quincy 


67 


68 


Green Valley 


69 


24 


Camp Point 


79 


69 


Metropolis 


100 


25 


Mendon _ 


92 


70 


Union 


65 


26 


Libertyville 


53 


71 


Hartsburg 


65 


27 


Walnut 


65 


72 


Mt. Pulaski 


65 


28 


Wauconda 


100 


73 


Atlanta 


65 


29 


Jacksonville 


100 


74 


Beason 


65 


30 


Dixon 


100 


75 


St. Charles 


68 


31 


Verona 


103 


76 


Joliet 


65 


32 


Carthage 


70 


77 


Sycamore 


83 


33 


Hamilton 


68 


24 


LaHarpe 


65 


34 


Hamilton 


68 


8 


Rushville 


65 


35 


Basco 


68 


25 


Versailles 


65 


36 


Clayton 


65 


Z7 


Warsaw 


65 


37 


Clayton 


65 


34 


Plymouth 


65 


38 


Augusta 


72 


48 


Batavia 


76 


39 


Mt. Sterling 


84 


391 


Glen Ellyn 


80 


40 


Kewanee 


78 


78 


Paxton 


65 


41 


Coal City 


103 


79 


New Canton 


65 


42 


Morris 


104 


80 


Loraine 


85 


43 


Bellflower 


65 


81 


West Point 


9f> 


44 


New Bedford 


82 









From these units were formed the Fifth and Sixth Regiments; the Fifth 

Regiment, as follows : 

Colonel Charles P. Summers, commanding : 

Unit No. 9, Alton, became Company C, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 51, Springfield, became Company D, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 20, Carbondale, became Company E, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No 19, Gibson City, became Company F, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 2, Decatur, became Company G, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 7, Milford, became Company M, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 42, Morris, became Company A, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 3, Wheaton, became Company B, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 14, Sterling, became Company L, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 6, Elgin, became Company I, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 15, Naperville, became Company L, Fifth Regiment 
Unit No. 17, Yorkville, became Company K, Fifth Regiment 

The Sixth Regiment as follows : 
Colonel Frank Bacon, commanding: 

Unit No. SO, Lincohi, became Company A, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 26, Libertyville, became Company B, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 29, Jacksonville, became Company C, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. n. Sycamore, became Company IX Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 16, Moline, became Company E, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 30, Dixon, became Company F, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 391, Glen Ellyn, became Company G, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 45, Lexington, became Company H, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 47, Geneva, became Company I, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 67, Aurora, became Company K, Sixth Regiment 
Unit No. 40, Kewanee, became Company L, Sixth Regiment 

Units of the Volunteer Training Corps not incorporated in the Fifth and Sixth 
Regiments volunteered for service in the so-called depot organization of the 
Reserve Militia and are as follows, on June 20, 1918 : 

Unit No. 1, Springfield Unit No. 59, Meredosia 

Unit No. 8, Golden Unit No, 60, Emden 

Unit No. 22, Lawrenceville Unit No. 61, Chestnut 

Unit No. 23, Quincy Unit No. 68, Green Valley 

Unit No. 25, Mendon Unit No. 69, Metropolis 

Unit No. 31, Verona Unit No. 75, St. Charles 

Unit No. 32, Carthage Unit No. 76, Joliet 

Unit No. 33, Hamilton Unit No. 24, LaHarpe 

Unit No 35, Basco Unit No. 8, Rushville 

Unit No. 36, Clayton Unit No. 25, Versailles 

Unit No. 38, Augiista Unit No. 37, Warsaw 

Unit No. 39, Mt. Sterling Unit No. 34, Plymouth 

Unit No. 46. Gardner Unit No. 78, Paxton 

Unit No. 49, Joliet Unit No. 79, New Canton 

Unit No. 54, Minooka Unit No. 89, Loraine 

Unit No. 56, Barry Unit No. 81, West Point 
Unit No. 58, Perry 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



229 



From this depot organization will be, by the Adjutant General, organized the 
Seventh Regiment, Illinois Reserve Militia, and replacement of any companies 
necessary in existing organizations and from the remainder of the units in the 
depot organization of both Illinois outside of Cook County and Cook County will 
be formed as required and as equipment is furnished companies, battalions and 
regiments at the discretion of the Adjutant General. 

Units that have not volunteered and have not been mustered into either the 
Reserve Militia or the depot organization of the Reserve Militia, which will be car- 
ried as units of the Volunteer Training Corps, so long as they conform to the 
regulations and keep up their esprit de corps and make their monthly reports, 
are as follows : 



Unit No. 27, Walnut 

Unit No. 28, Wauconda 

Unit No. 41, Coal Citv 

Unit No. 43, Bellflower 

Unit No. 53, Pekin 

Unit No. 62, Mazon 

Unit No. 63, Middletown 

Unit No. 64, Kankakee 



Unit No. 65, Kankakee 

Unit No. 66, Kankakee 

Unit No. 70, Union 

Unit No. 71, Hartsburg 

Unit No. 72, Mt. Pulaski 

Unit No. Ti, Atlanta 

Unit No. 74, Season 

Unit No. 48, Batavia 



The following units have failed to keep up their organization and have been 
ordered disbanded : 

Unit No. 22, Johnston City 
Unit No. 24, Camp Point 
Unit No. 34, Hamilton 



Unit No. 16, Sheldon 

Unit No. 21, Alton (Colored) 

Unit No. 23, Sterling- 



Unit No. 37, Clayton 
Unit No. 48, New Holland 
Unit No. 55, St. Joseph 



Unit No. 10, E. St. Louis 

LTnit No. 11, E. St. Louis 

Unit No. 12, E. St. Louis 

Unit No. 4, Taylorville 

The Fifth and Sixth regiments are now brigaded under the command of 
Brigadier General Frank P. Wells. As soon as the Seventh regiment is com- 
pleted it will be attached to his brigade. 

Unit No. 18, Cairo, which was originally in the Fifth regiment was at its 
own request transferred to the Ninth Guard regiment. Unit No. 51, Springfield, 
was submitted in the Fifth regiment for the Cairo unit. Unit No. 5, Lincoln, was 
also originally placed in the Fifth regiment, and transferred to the Tenth Guarcf 
regiment. Unit No. 42, Morris, was substituted in the Fifth regiment for the 
Lincoln unit. Unit No. 78, Paxton, originally offered for the depot brigade is 
now assigned to the Tenth Guard regiment. 

The following towns originally made queries anent the formation of units 
of the Council of Defense Volunteer Training Corps but nothing further was 
heard from them after they were advised of what was necessary to fulfill the 
regulations and requirements for the formation of units : 



Geneseo 

La Salle 

McLeansboro 

Plainville 

Centralia 

Gossett 

West Frankfort 

Litchfield 

Belleville 

Ashmore 

Belleville 

Wapella 

Wayne City 

Princeton 

Blue Island 

Marissa 

Benton 

Cary 

Oblong 

Rock Island 

Mt. Morris 

Austin 

Rock Falls 

Cambridge 

LaSalle 



Eldorado 

Harrisburg 

Galesburg 

Geneseo 

Ava 

Olney 

Greenville 

Chicago 



Kaneville 
Bloomington 
Litchfield 
Peoria 
Saybrook 
West Chicago 
Granite City 
Newton 



(1250 Emmerson Av.)Fithian 
Paris 
Sullivan 
Peoria 
Gillespie 
Carlinville 
Prairie du Rocher 
Staunton 
Enfield 
Effingham 
Belvidere 
Woodstock 
West Chicago 
Ottawa 
Huntley 
Bloomington 



Newton 



Armstrong 

Vermont 

Mason City 

Princeton 

Neoga 

Ottawa 

Kell 

Pawnee 

McLeansboro 

Springfield 

R. F. D. No. ! 
Ashley 
Ridgway 

(2006 E. Edwards St.)Cropsey 
Jerseyville Rock Island 

Alsey 



Mt. Morris 

Murphysboro 

Waukegan 

Cambridge 

Newton 

Princeton 

Rock Island 

Marengo 

Pana 

Mackinaw 

Sparta 

Mounds 

Mound City 

Dblong 

Easton 

San Jose 

Granite City 

Bufifalo 

Sesser 

DuOuoin 

Stanford 

Morton 



Division No. 2 — Chicago and Cook County. 



Through the public-spirited and patriotic action of Messrs. Angus S. Hib- 
bard, Edgar A. Bancroft, John T. Stockton, Harry H. Merrick, D. F. Kelly, C. A. 



230 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Pense, and Hopewell L. Rogers of Chicago in coming to Springfield for a con- 
ference with Governor Lowden and Lieutenant-Governor Oglesby, at which 
conference the gentlemen offered unreservedly any assistance to the State 
Council that lay within their power, the Military Committee of the State Council 
of Defense formed the Cook County Auxiliary Committee on Military Affairs to 
operate as the immediate representatives of the Military Committee of the State 
Council of Defense in entire control and jurisdiction of the formation and super- 
vision of all units of the Council of Defense Training Corps in Chicago and Cook 
County under the general supervision of the Military Committee of the State 
Council of Defense. 

These gentlemen organized with General Edward C. Young as Chairman ; 
Angus S. Hibbard as Vice-Chairman ; John T. Stockton as Secretary and Harry 
H. Merrick as Treasurer. At once was begun, under the immediate supervision 
of General Young, the organization of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Re- 
serve Militia regiments, composed of units of the Volunteer Training Corps in 
Chicago and Cook County. Due to the untiring labors of these gentlemen, and 
especially of General Young, these regiments were in a very short while com- 
pletely uniformed, organized and mustered into the service of the state. 

Upon the formation of these regiments the Adjutant General ordered them 
brigaded and offered at the direction of the Governor of Illinois the appointment 
of Brigadier General commanding, the First, Second, Third and Fourth regi- 
ments, to former Major General Edward C. Young. General Young accepted 
with the understanding that because of his departure from the state for final' 
residence in New York that he could command this brigade only a very short 
time. Upon his departure for his permanent residence in New York, Governor 
Lowden appointed as his successor the senior Colonel in command of the Reserve 
Militia in Cook County, Colonel Leroy T. Steward. General Steward has com- 
pleted the efficient work of General Young and the brigade of the Reserve Militia 
in Cook county is now in splendid condition, being fully armed and uniformed 
and ready for any emergency. 

In addition to this brigade General Steward has organized a volunteer motor 
transport division attached to the brigade. 

The vacancy in the chairmanship of the Cook County Auxiliary Committee 
of Military Affairs caused by the removal of General Young from the state was 
filled by the appointment of the Vice-Chairman, Angus S. Hibbard. The va- 
cancy in the Vice-chairmanship caused by the advancement of Mr Hibbard was 
filled by Hon. Edgar A. Bancroft. Under Mr. Hibbard's supervision the work 
begun by General Young was and has been fully and satisfactorily carried out 
up until June 5, 1918. On June 5th, Mr. Hibbard received orders to report for 
Red Cross service in France and left immediately for New York and in his ab- 
sence the Hon. Edgar A. Bancroft, Vice-chairman, has entered upon and will 
perform the duties of chairman during Mr. Hibbard's absence. At the head- 
quarters of the Chicago Military Committee Major Lathrop Collins and Captain 
John T. Stockton have, under the supervision of the Chicago Military Committee 
been most faithful and assiduous in the carrying out of the organization, super- 
vision and inspection of the units of the Volunteer Training Corps in Cook 
county. 

Units of the Volunteer Training Corps not incorporated in the First, Sec- 
ond, Third and Fourth regiments, volunteered for service in the so-called depot 
organization of the Reserve Militia and are as follows : 

Depot Organization 

Unit No. Location Men 

331 Sherman Park, 52nd and Racine _ IZ 

338 Mark White Square, 29th and Halsted 68 

364 Young Men's Club, Lake Forest 82 

372 Le Moyne School, Waveland and Rokeby 78 

Z12> 7th Regiment Armory, 3401 Wentworth 78 

374 Parker High School, 6800 Stewart Avenue 83 

376 Madison and Desplaines (Forest Park) \2> 

378 Norwood Park School, Norwood Park , 83 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 231 

Unit No. Location Men 

380 1333 Argyle St., Essany Studio 7Z 

382 Pulaski Park, Noble and Blackhawk 83 

383 Pulaski Park, Noble and Blackhawk 83 

384 Pulaski Park, Noble and Blackhawk 83 

385 Pulaski Park, Noble and Blackhawk 83 

386 Clarke School, 13th and Ashland 83 

387 Evangelical Theological College, Elmhurst 83 

388 Parker High School, 6800 Stewart Ave 93 

389 6919 Stony Island Ave 68 

390 Catlow's Hall, Barrington 93 

392 Byford School, 5600 Iowa St ^ 68 

393 Portage Park School, 54th and Berteau 83 

394 Carl Schurz High School, Milwaukee and Addison 98 

396 Oakland School, 40th and Cottage Grove 88 

397 Swift School, 5900 Winthrop 63 

398 Oakland School, 40th and Cottage Grove 103 

399 Wm. Penn Nixon School, 2121 N. Keeler 78 

401 175 W. Jackson Blvd 123 

402 J. S. Morton High School, Cicero 78 

403 2457 Michigan Ave 73 

405 Stock Yards (Swift & Co) 88 

406 Village Hall, Arlington Heights 68 

407 Thornton High School, Harvey, 111 83 

417 Robert Morris ScJiool, Barry and Wilton 73 

410 Bartlett Gymnasium, Chicago University 78 

415 South Shore Country Club 93 

408 Battery "B" Armory, 2316 Lincoln Avenue 125 

412 Ogden School, Chestnut and State 93 

423 John Marshall High School, 3250 West Adams 83 

411 Municipal Pier (south side street car level) 78 

419 Insurance Exchange 83 

413 Hyde Park H. S 78 

Ambulance Co., Municipal Pier .•. 58 

Units which have not volunteered for the Depot organization but which are 
still known as Volunteer Training Corps Units are : 

Unit No. Location Unit No. Location 

337 McKinlev High School 421 6734 Wentworth Ave. 

341 Delano School, 3937 Wilcox 420 Armory on County St^ Waukegan 

370 Main Township High School X Morton High School, Cicero 

371 Hull House, 800 S. Halsted St. 424 Waters School, 2519 Wilson Avenue 
377 City Hall, Park Ridge 425 Columbus School, Augusta & Leavitt 
379 6660 Edison Park Ave. X Hibbard School (Ainslee & Sjpaulding) 
381 4035 Milwaukee Ave. X Burke School, 54th & South Park 

395 Chopin School, Campbell and Iowa 418 Lake View High School 

400 New Trier High School 409 Western Springs. 111. 

404 42nd and Halsted (Wilson & Co.) 414 Armour & Co., Stock Yards 

X Medical Unit 414 Armory on County St., Waukegan 

X Brentano School X Carl Schurz High School 

X McPherson School, Lawrence & Lincoln Band Berwyn 

X Christopher Playground, 22nd & Robey 422 McClellan School 

416 Harrison High School, 24th & Marshall X John Marshall High School 
X 175 W. Jackson (Palos Park, Oak Lawn) 

The following units have failed to keep up their organization and have 
been ordered disbanded upon the recommendation of the Military Affairs Com- 
mittee of Chicago : 

Unit No. 339, Consumers Bldg., Chicago; Deemer and Novak. 
Units No. 345 to No. 356, colored companies, with exception of four 
units for Illinois Reserve Militia Battalion. 

Unit No. 342, Swift School, consolidated with D Company, Fourth 
Regiment, Illinois Reserve Militia. 

Unit which had not been accepted, drilling at Rand-McNally Court. 

Unit which had not been accepted, drilling at Masonic Temple. 



232 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

RECAPITULATION 

Units Men 

Total number of units and men organized up to date in the Volunteer Training 

Corps, including Divisions One and Two 223 16,057 

1 Medical unit; 9 infantry units; 2 disbanded 12 400 

235 16,457 

Present Disposition of Above 

Total number of units and men transferred to the Reserve Militia 80 5,804 

Total number of units and men transferred to the Depot organization 11 4,929 

Total number of units and men transferred to the Guard Regiments 2 186 

Total number of units and men remaining in the Volunteer Training Corps 40 3,439 

Total number of units and men ordered disbanded 23 1,634 

Total number of units and men not recognized 13 465 

The State of Illinois has been very fortunate, indeed, in obtaining from 
the federal government arms and ammunition together with certain parts of 
equipment available for the use of the Reserve Militia. The government has 
allotted up to the present date to the State of Illinois 5,800 Krag rifles, Model 
1898, and 3.000 Russian rifles, or a total of 8,800 arms. In addition to this they 
furnished the state with a commensurate number of rounds for each rifle, con- 
sequently, all units of the Volunteer Training Corps that have been mustered' 
into the state service in the Reserve Militia, comprising the First, Second, 
Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Regiments, are fully armed and uniformed. 

The state still has on hand enough rifles to arm the Seventh Regiment when 
it is completely organized. So soon as the exigencies confronting the federal 
government will perrnit further allocation of rifles will be made to the state of 
Illinois for use of the Reserve Militia and until this time units in the Reserve 
Militia which are unarmed will be designated as the Depot organization of the 
Reserve Militia. These units will be uniformed and trained and will be ready 
for immediate armed service so soon as rifles can be obtained. Every unit 
of the Council of Defense is given the opportunity to volunteer for service in 
the Reserve Militia or in the Depot organization of the Reserve Militia. 

How TO Form Reserve Regiment 

Procedure for the formation of a Reserve Alilitia regiment is as follows: 
When the Governor by proclamation called for the formation of 
the Reserve Militia setting forth the number needed, the State Council 
of Defense tendered to the Adjutant General such units of the Council 
of Defense Volunteer Training Corps as had complied with the regula- 
tions of the Military Committee of the State Council of Defense and had 
volunteered for service in the Reserve Militia. So far all requirements 
of the state for the formation of the Reserve Militia have been filled 
from the ranks of the Volunteer Training Corps. 

Service in the Volunteer Training Corps is entirely voluntary. Each 
captain of each unit is responsible for the discipline, conduct and effi- 
ciency of his unit. His only resource for obedience to order and dis- 
cipline is moral suasion as in the Volunteer Training Corps no oath of 
service to the state is taken. 

Service in the Reserve Militia carries an oath for a two-year enlist- 
ment, provided by law, and the law also provides that the Adjutant 
General shall issue from time to time such orders for the conduct of 
the Reserve Militia as may be deemed necessary. The Adjutant General 
has made applicable to the Reserve Militia the military code of the 
State of Illinois, consequently, obedience to order and discipline is pro- 
vided for by law and is not voluntary. Opportunity is given to every 
unit organized in the Council of Defense Volunteer Training Corps to 
volunteer for and be taken into the Reserve Militia. 

Your Military Committee, after a year's experience, has come to the con- 
clusion that the best service to the state can be rendered by Volunteer Training 
Corps units enlisting in and becoming a part of the Reserve Militia. In other 
words, that armed and uniformed forces of the state give better results when 
provision for their formation and conduct is provided for under the law of the 
state rather than upon the basis of voluntary service. This being so and the 
forces of the state now organized, armed and equipped being sufficient for any 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



233 



emergency in the usual course of events within the confines of the state, the 
State Council of Defense directed that the further creation of units of the Vol- 
unteer Training Corps be for the time being held in abeyance. In conformity 
with these directions no further units have been recognized in the State Council 
of Defense Volunteer Training Corps. Since this action by your Military Com- 
mittee the following towns have asked for recognition for the formation of units : 



Hopedale 

Christopher 

Jewett 

Murphysboro 

Marion 

Brighton 

Marissa 

DeKalb 

Syanet 

Farmer City 

Assumption 

Peoria 

Lockport 

Buda 

Saybrook 

Charleston 

Champaign 

Chicago (711 E. 37th St.) 

Mattoon 

Galtaia 

Staunton 

Ullin 

Eureka 

Sullivan 



Chatsworth 

Collinsville 

Mansfield 

Hinckley 

Benld 

Watseka 

Kansas 

Terre Haute 

Carman 

Cuba 

Roodhouse 

McClure 

Niota 

Albion 

Leland 

Virginia 

Blufifs 

Carlyle 

White Hall 

Maroa 

Elmwood 

Dallas City 

Paris 



Gridley 

Assumption 

E. St. Louis 

Tallula 

Genoa 

Carrier Mills 

Geneseo 

Washburn 

Momence 

Lake Fork 

Saybrook 

El Paso 

Pleasant Hill 

Carterville 

Chandlerville 

Centralia 

Farmington 

Flat Rock 

Greenup 

Ottawa 

Manhattan 

Camp Point 

Streator 

Greenup 



Robinson 

These requests for the time being are held by the Military Committee for 
future decision. 

Great Aid to Drafted Men 

Your Military Committee finds that one of the most conspicuous and effi- 
cacious results of the State Council of Defense Volunteer Training Corps has 
been the military schools of instructions for soldiers of draft age which have 
been established. This plan, inaugurated by your Military Committee pro- 
vides that any man of draft age and in the draft may obtain upon certain 
evenings in a week, School of Instruction of the Soldier, from the unit of 
the Volunteer Training Corps or company of the Reserve Militia in the locality 
nearest of convenience to the man desiring such instruction. The results of this 
training have been splendid as many men who have passed through this training 
given under the supervision of the Military Committee of the State Council of 
Defense have, shortly after their arrival in cantonments and camps been 
advanced to the grades of non-commissioned officers in the National Army 

In this connection the Chairman of the Military Committee wrote to Major 
Gen. Leonard Wood setting forth this plan of instruction for the draft soldier 
and 1 set forth below Gen. Woods' reply: 

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTY-NINTH DIVISION 

Camp Funston, Kansas 

T, „ April 15, 1918. 

Dear Governor: Yours of the 13th received. I believe thoroughly 
in the advanced training of the men who are to come to us in the next 
draft. Everything helps. The better trained they are when we get 
them, the more quickly we can put them in shape for service. 

I am particularly glad that you are building up so actively the 
Reserve Militia and the Volunteer Training Corps. 

With kindest regards I am. sincerely yours, 
Tj T ^ ^ (Signed) Leonard Wood. 

Hon. John G. Oglesby, Major General U S A 

Lieutenant-Governor, State of Illinois, 
Springfield, Illinois. 



234 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



Your Military Committee further finds that the existence of urn s scattered 
throughout the ^State tends to create a very deep sentiment of loyalty and 
n/trivftisr^ and the example of these men volunteering for an unselfish and 
Enremun^ratlve duty for the service of their state and country inspires great local 

pride and feeling. , , ,, r , r- v* ., -kva; 

All of which is respectfully submitted on behalf of the Committee on Mili- 
tary Affairs, State Council of Defense. ^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^ 

Chairman. 
Frank Billings. 
David E. Shanahan. 

MILITARY COMMITTEE'S SUPPLEMENTAL AND FINAL REPORT 
JUNE 20, 1918, TO DECEMBER 31, 1918 

January 31, 1919. 

To the State Council of Defense: 

In conformity with your directions that a final report of the Mih ary Com- 
mittee of the State Council of Defense be filed with you, I herewith present 
"o you the complete and final report of the Military Committee of the State 
Council of Defense. ,• . .r, . 

This report is to be considered in the manner of an appendix to the report 
of the Military Committee made to you of date of June 10, 1J1«. 

Following the outline of the report of June 20, 1918, the state outside of 
Cook couTty^s known as Division No. 1 and Cook county and Chicago is 
known as Division No. 2. 

DIVISION no. 1 

The following towns on the dates shown made request for recognition as 
units of the Volunteer Training Corps and were so recognized : 



Town 

St. Anne 

Momence 

Assumption 

Keyesport 

Geneseo 

Saybrook 

Feoria 

Peoria 

Peoria 

Peoria 

Anchor 

Cuba 

Franklin Grove 

DeKalb 

Hinckley 



Unit Number 
84 
8S 
86 
87 
88 
89 
90 
91 
92 
93 
94 
95 
96 
97 
98 



Number of Men 

66 
70 
65 
100 
65 
61 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
67 
65 
90 
65 



Date Recognized 
July 29, 1918 
August 8, 1918 
August 14, 1918 
August 19, 1918 
August 19, 1918 
August 23, 1918 
August 23, 1918 
August 23, 1918 
August 23, 1918 
August 23, 1918 
September 3. 1918 
September 3, 1918 
September 17, 1918 
October 1. 1918 
January 2, 1919 



The following units having complied with the requirements of the Volunteer 
Training Corps and signifying their desire to volunteer for service in the 
Reserve Militia were tendered to the Adjutant General for such Reserve and by 
him accepted: .r, . ^r- -nr 

Unit No 90 . Peoria 65 Men Unit No. 92 Peoria 65 Men 

Unit No." 91.:. Peoria 65 Men Unit No. 93 Peoria 65 Men 

The following units having complied with the requirements of the Volun- 
teer Training Corps and signifying their desire to volunteer for service in the 
Depot Organization of the Reserve Militia were tendered to the Adjutant 
General for such Depot Organization and by him accepted: 

Unit No 84 St. Anne 66 Men Unit No. 94 Anchor 65 Men 

Un No! 85 Momence 70 Men Unit No. 95 Cuba 67 Men 

Unit No. 86 Assumption..65 Men Unit No. 97 DeKalb .90 Men 

Unit No. 89 Saybrook 61 Men Unit No. 98 Hinckley 65 Men 

On December eleventh all units of the Volunteer Training Corps were noti- 
fied that the Council of Defense was closing up its affairs and that consequently 
the Military Committee would have to reach some determination upon the future 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 235 

disposition of units of the Volunteer Training Corps who were not in the 
service of the State in the Reserve Militia and the following letter was sent 
to the commanders of such units of the Volunteer Training Corps : 

"My Dear Captain: 

"The Act creating the State Council of Defense provides that the 
Council shall exist only for the duration of the war. Consequentlj% 
when peace is finally declared by proclamation of the President the 
State Council of Defense automatically ceases its work and passes out 
of existence. 

"Volunteer Training Corps units will, therefore, likewise pass out 
of existence with the cessation of the State Council of Defense. 

"The Reserve Militia of the State of Illinois being organized under 
statute passed by the Legislature will continue its organization and will 
be the lawful military force of the State. Volunteer Training Corps 
units that have not already availed themselves of the opportunity given 
them to be mustered into the Depot Organization of the Reserve Militia 
may now apply for such muster, in order that the State may perma- 
nently profit by the patriotic spirit and military training given and 
received by the officers and men of the Volunteer Training Corps, and 
that the latter may receive a well deserved recognition. This is the last 
opportunity. Units that do not volunteer for service in the Depot Organ- 
ization of the Reserve Militia will be mustered out of the service of the 
State Council of Defense not later than December 31, 1918, since with 
the non-existence of the State Council of Defense there is no authority 
for the continuation of these units. This means that the Volunteer 
Training Corps units will cease to exist and their members will not be 
authorized thereafter to maintain their organization, wear uniforms or 
drill with arms. Will you be good enough to advise me at once the 
decision of your unit — whether it desires to be mustered into the Depot 
Organization of the Reserve Militia, full information concerning which 
has been sent you before, or prefers to Pe mustered out of the service 
of the State Council of Defense? 

"As Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, State and 
Local Defense, I take this opportunity on behalf of the State Council 
of Defense to express grateful appreciation by the Council and citizens 
of the patriotic service that has been rendered by your unit — a service 
scarcely less necessary than that given by our gallant men abroad. 

"Sincerely yours, 
"John G. Oglesby, Chairman. 
To the Commanding Officers of the Units of the State Council of Defense 

Volunteer Training Corps." 

On December thirty-first, the date determined for the dissolution of the units 
of the Volunteer Training Corps, the following order of discharge was sent to 
the commander of each unit signifying its decision not to volunteer for service 
in the Reserve Militia Depot Organization : 

"Dear Sir: 

"Acknowledging your letter of 

"This is your authority to muster out of the service of the State 
Council of Defense immediately Unit No , Volunteer Train- 
ing Corps, and from this date your unit ceases to have any official stand- 
ing with the consequent cessation of drills, wearing of uniforms, etc. 

"As Chairman of the Military Committee, may I express to you and 
through you to the members of your unit the appreciation of the State 
Council of Defense for the public-spirited and patriotic services shown 
by you men in the past emergency. 

"Sincerely yours, 
"John G. Oglesby, Chairman. 

Captain 

Unit No 

Illinois" 



236 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

The following units, recognized since June 20, 1918, received such order of 
discharge : 

Unit No. 87.-.Keyesport 100 Men Unit No. 96.. ..Franklin Grove.... 65 Men 

Unit No. 88....Geneseo 65 Men 

The units listed below^ were recognized previous to June 20th report as 
Volunteer Training Corps units and have since been mustered into the service of 
the State as follows : 

Unit No. 66, Kankakee Reserve Militia 

Unit No. 65, Kankakee Reserve Militia 

Unit No. 48, Batavia Depot Organization, R. M. 

Unit No. 27, Walnut " " " " 

Unit No. 72, Mt. Pulaski " ]| " ]| 

Unit No. 46, Gardner 
Unit No. 8, Rushville " " " " 

The following units recognized prior to June 20, 1918, received such order 
of discharge : 

Unit No. 28..-Wauconda 100 Men Unit No. 62....Mazon 82 Men 

Unit No. 31....Verona 103 Men Unit No. 63....Middletown .. 65 Men 

Unit No. 40....Kewanee 78 Men Unit No. 70....Union 65 Men 

Unit No. 41. ...Coal City 103 Men Unit No. 71.-Hartsburg 65 Men 

Unit No. 43....Bellflower 65 Men Unit No. 73....Atlanta 65 Men 

Unit No. 53....Pekin 113 Men Unit No. 74....Beason _... 65 Men 

DIVISION NO. 2 

I attach verbatim report of the Cook County Military Affairs Committee to 
the Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee of the State Council of 
Defense, which sets forth sententiously the operations of this division. To this 
the following information is added: 

First — The amount of funds transferred by the Military Affairs Commit- 
tee of Cook County to Brigadier General Leroy T. Steward, commanding 
the First Brigade of the Illinois Reserve Militia, is $1,742.48. 

Second — Unit No. 430 is the only new unit recognized since June 20th 
report. This unit is composed of 70 men. 

Third — The following numbered units, recognized before June 20th were 
since mustered into the Illinois Reserve Militia Depot Organization: 

Unit No. 394 95 Men Unit No. 378 80 Men 

Unit No. 393 80 Men Unit No. 397 60 Men 

Unit No. 399 75 Men Unit No. 408 127 Men 

Unit No. 387 80 Men Unit No. 420 100 Men 

Ambulance Unit 70 Men Unit No. 417 70 Men 

Unit No. 418 80 Men Unit No. 402 75 Men 

Unit No. 427 70 Men Unit No. 389 65 Men 



Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 


Unit 


No. 



Unit No. 410 75 Men Unit No. 413 70 Men 

Unit No. 390 90 Men Unit No. 372 75 Men 

Unit No. 411 75 Men Unit No. 373 75 Men 

Unit No. 407 80 Men Unit No. 405 85 Men 

Unit No. 415 75 Men Unit No. 388 90 Men 

Unit No. 419 80 Men Unit No. 398 100 Men 

Unit No. 423 80 Men Unit No. 396 85 Men 

Unit No. 401 120 Men 

Under the order of December eleventh, previously referred to, the units 

listed below volunteered for service in the Depot Organization of the Reserve 
Militia : 

Unit No. 331 70 Men Unit No. 374 80 Men 

Unit No. 338 65 Men Unit No. 380 70 Men 

Unit No. 337 75 Men Unit No. 382 80 Men 

Unit No. 341 85 Men Unit No. 383 80 Men 

(Unit No. 416 merged with this unit) Unit No. 384 80 Mert 

Unit No. 371 65 Men Unit No. 385 80 Men 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 237 

Unit No. 395 60 Men Unit No. 421 80 Men 

Unit No. 404 85 Men Unit No. 429 65 Men 

Unit No. 412 90 Men Band "B," Berwyn 

Unit No. 416 70 Men Medical Unit 

(Merged with No. 341) 
The following numbered units did not volunteer for service in the Depot 
Organization of the Reserve Militia and were consequently directed discharged 
on December 31, 1918, in the same manner as were the units of Division No. 1. 
All of these units were recognized prior to June 20, 1918, with the exception 
of Unit No. 430: 

Unit No. 370 75 Men Unit No. 406 65 Men 

Unit No. 376 53 Men Unit No. 409 75 Men 

Unit No. ill 70 Men Unit No. 414 80 Men 

Unit No. 379 80 Men Unit No. 422 65 Men 

Unit No. 381 75 Men Unit No. 425 65 Men 

Unit No. 386 80 Men Unit No. 426 70 Men 

Unit No. 392 65 Men Unit No. 424 75 Men 

Unit No. 400 65 Men Unit No. 430 70 Men 

Unit No. 403 70 Men Unit No. 428 70 Men 

RECAPITULATION OF UNITS RECOGNIZED SINCE JUNE 20, 1918. 

Total number of units recognized in Divisions No. 1 and No. 2, since 

June 20, 1918 16 

DISPOSITION OF UNITS 

Total number of units in Reserve Militia 4 260 Men 

Total number of units in Reserve Militia Depot Organ 8 549 Men 

Total number of units disbanded 4 300 Men 

Total 16 1,109 Men 



GRAND RECAPITULATION 

Total number of units and total number of men accounted for in Report of 

Units Men 

June 20, 1918 235 16,457 

Total number of new units accounted for in present report 16 1,109 

Units accounted for and unnumbered in present report 8 



Grand Total 259 17,566 

A discrepancy of 16 units exists between present report and report of June 
20, but is accounted for because the report of June 20 by the Chicago 
Military Committee accounts for 16 units which had not been numbered 
and recognized 16 



Grand Net Total 243 17,566 

DISPOSITION OF GRAND NET TOTAL 

Units Men 

In National Guard „ 2 1 86 

In Reserve Militia 90 6,996 

In Reserve Militia Depot Organization 92 5,151 

Disbanded 44 3,202 

Merged with other companies 3 365 

Recognition Revoked 4 366 

Supply Companies in Reserve Militia, (Unnumbered) 2 150 

Transport Companies, (Unnumbered and Disbanded) 4 1,000 

Band — (Unnumbered and Volunteering for service in Reserve Militia 

Depot Organization) 1 SO 

Medical Unit — -(Unnumbered and volunteering for service in Reserve 

Militia Depot Organization) 1 100 



Total 243 17.566 

Committee's Affairs Wound Up 

The records of the Military Affairs Committee of Cook County have been 
delivered to Mr. George F. Mitchell, Assistant Secretary of the State Counci> 
of Defense and the active work of the Military Afifairs Committee of Cook 
County is now completed. However, the Chairman of the Committee on Mili- 
tary Affairs of the State Council of Defense requested that the members of the 
Military Affairs Committee of Cook County should continue their organiza- 
tion in existence so long as the State Council of Defense is extant and witlf 



238 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

the usual public-spiritedness and obligingness of the membership of this Com- 
mitteethev agreed to this suggestion and consequently will retam their status 
Sir the Statf Couidl of Defense, by law, passes out of existence, when this 
committee will automatically be dissolved. 

At this time I, as Chairman of the Committee on Military Af?airs, State and 
Local Defense of he State Council of Defense, desire to express to the member, 
of the Mlitary Affairs Committee of Cook County Messrs. Angus S.Hibbard, 
EdsTr A Bancroft, John T. Stockton, Harry H. Merrick, D. F. Kelly, C A^ 
PeSe Hopewell Rogers and David E. Shanahan, the gratitude o the State 
Council of Sense fir the invaluable assistance that they have at all imes ren- 
dered I am putting it not extravagantly when I say that the successful results 
accomplished in Chicago and Cook County military affairs were primarily 
dependent upon the labors of this Committee and I wish to express grateful 
appreciation for their patriotic service-a service scarcely less necessary than 
St given by the men actually under arms in the service of our country. A 
report by the Cook County Military Affairs Committee is appended. 

As a slight recognition of the services of this committee, I suggested to 
Governor Lowden that the committee be commissioned as Lieutenant Colonels 
in the Reserve Militia of the State of Illinois.. Governor Lowden endiusmsically 
concurred in this recommendation and Special Order No 216 of the Adjutant 
General's Department was issued, commissioning as Lieutenant Colonel in the 
Reserve Militia of the State of Illinois, Messrs. Angus S. Hibbard, Edgar A. 
Bancroft, John T. Stockton, Harry H. Merrick, D. F. Kelly, C. A. Pense, Hope- 
well Rocers and David E. Shanahan. 

All of which is respectfully submitted on behalf of the Military Committee 
of the State Council of Defense. John G. Oglesby, Chairman. 

Frank Billings. 
David E. Shanahan. 

Report of the Auxiliary Committee on Military Affairs 
For Cook County 

January 24, 1919. 
To the Chairman Military Affairs Committee, State Council of Defense: 

The Military Affairs Committee of Cook County begs to submit the follow- 
ing report, concluding its activities as of December 31, 1918: 

The transfer of the Illinois National Guard early in 1917 to the Government 
service and their removal from the State to training camps in various parts ot 
the country in preparation for activities in the war with the Central Powers, 
removed from the State of Illinois all military forces under jurisdiction of the 

State 

In view of this condition, and realizing the necessity of adequate military 
organization to replace the forces so removed, Messrs. Edgar A. Bancroft, Johri 
T Stockton Harry H. Merrick and Angus S. Hibbard, by appointment, called 
upon Governor Frank O. Lowden at Springfield in July, 1917, to offer their serv- 
ices in developing in and around Cook County, Illinois, such military forces as 
might be required. At this meeting, you as Chairman of the Military Affairs 
Committee of the State Council of Defense, presented the plan which had 
been approved by the Council, providing for the organization of the Illinois 
Volunteer Training Corps to act under authority of the State by organized 
units and with officers commissioned by the State Council of Defense to be organ- 
ized in such localities in the State as might be determined upon. 

It was then decided by Governor Lowden and by you to nominate a Military 
Affairs Committee of Cook County to act as subsidiary of the Military Affairs 
Committee of the State Council of Defense and to take in hand the organization 
and development of the forces of the Illinois Volunteer Training Corps on the 
plan proposed. • j u 

Upon your recommendation the following committee was duly appointed by 
the State Council of Defense : 

General Edward C. Young, Chairman. Edgar A. Bancroft. 

Angus S. Hibbard, Vice Chairman. C. A. Pense. 

John T. Stockton, Secretary. Hopewell L. Rogers. 

Harry H. Merrick, Treasurer. D. F. Kelly. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 239 

Offices were establislied in the building of the State Council of Defense, 
120 West Adams Street, Chicago. The first meeting of the committee was 
held in Chicago, July 31, 1917, at which the purpose of the organization of the 
proposed military units was declared to be : 

1. To train men for the National Guard; 

2. To provide opportunity for men not in either of these organizations 
to serve their country; 

3. To assist the Government in emergencies at home when called by 
the State for duty ; 

4. To take the place of the National Guard which had been called to 
the front. 

Generous publicity was given the plan by the press and the response from men 
of the required qualifications was immediate. Within four months 130 units of 
the Illinois Volunteer Training Corps were formed, 578 officers received com- 
missions and the required routine of drill and training was established. Avail- 
able quarters in armories, public school gymnasiums and similar quarters in and 
around Cook Count}'- were placed at the disposal of the committee and the 
public generously responded to the request for financial support necessary to 
carry on the work and, where required, to obtain uniforms and other equipment, 
a total of $38,648.98 being received and distributed by this committee for these 
purposes. 

Some Striking Results 

The patriotic enthusiasm aroused in many localities in which forces of the 
Illinois Volunteer Training Corps were assembled for drill quickly developed* 
them into centers for patriotic meetings and rallies, which have continued to 
this date, and to them in no small measure must be given credit for valuable re- 
sults accomplished in preliminary drilling, encouragement of drafted men, assist- 
ance in various Liberty Loan and other war measure drives, and in the spread of 
propaganda for support of the Government and of the State and in all endeavors 
throughout the war. Many men from these forces when transferred to training 
camps obtained speedy promotions into positions as subalterns or officers in the 
forces of the United States Government and have given a good account of them- 
selves in these services. An example of this was found in Unit No. 305, Evanston, 
Illinois, whose complement of 75 men has been maintained and through which 148 
men — of whom four were captains and 23 lieutenants— were passed on into the 
Government service. This unit, later Company E, First Infantry, Illinois Reserve 
Militia, Captain J. W. Macy, also drilled 500 drafted men. Also, Unit No. 410, later 
Depot Company No. 13, Illinois Reserve Militia, Captain George O. Fairweather, 
drilling at the Bartlett Gymnasium, University of Chicago, having a complement 
of 82 men and three officers, graduated Zl men, including one ensign, two captains 
and two lieutenants, drilling 150 drafted men ; and Unit No. 424, Captain Amos W. 
Marston, drilling at the Waters School, Wilson and Campbell Avenues, graduated 
116 men into the Federal service — of whom five are commissioned officers — and 
drilled 2,410 drafted men. Officers of the various Volunteer Training Corps units 
were assigned by Headquarters to the 89 dififerent Draft Boards in Cook County 
as military advisers, who, with assistance from their respective companies, fur- 
nished preliminary military instruction to the pre-inducted men. 

As a part of the development of the training corps, a medical unit was formed 
under the direction of Captain W. E. Boynton, consisting of twenty-six doctors, 
all of whom gave their services in the examination of recruits and enlisted forces 
and were ready for such calls for active service as might be received. 

A complete ambulance unit, consisting of twenty-six men and four officers, 
was organized under the direction of Captain W. E. Pierce. 

A regular Volunteer Training Corps Band was organized in Berwyn, Illinois, 
and did continuing service in parades, patriotic rallies and meetings, and similar 
functions. 

_ Four Motor Transport units were organized with a total of 1,000 men and 
divided into four groups, each being assigned to one of the regiments of the Illi- 
nois Reserve Militia. These men owned and operated private automobiles, were 
ready for muster, day or night, conducted continuous drill with and without 



240 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

cars, and on a number of occasions transported entire regiments to various points 
in the county for drills, parades, or other service. 

The Volunteer Training Corps and regiments of the Reserve Militia recruited 
from it appeared on various occasions in public parades and exercises. The full 
strength of the entire organization was particularly shown on Memorial Day, May 
30, 1918, when more than 10,000 men in the two organizations took part in the 
parade, reviewed by Major-General Thomas A. Barry, U. S. A.; Governor Frank 
O. Lowden, and members of the State Council of Defense. This is said to be the 
largest number of men of military units taking part in a parade in the State of Illi- 
nois up to this date, and did much to impress the community with the work accom- 
plished in providing for home defense. 

Men Enrolled in Cook County 

The complete enrollment in the Illinois Volunteer Training Corps units or- 
ganized by this committee comprised a total of 15,000 men, enrolled in 130 units, 
drilling a minimum of two hours per week, and ready for call upon order of the 
State Council of Defense, as required by the oath of enrollment, which was as 
follows : 

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will true allegiance bear to 
the State of Illinois, and that I will uphold its Constitution and laws and 
will serve it faithfully; that I will obey orders of the Commander-in- 
Chief and of such officers as may be placed over me, and the laws, rules 
and regulations of the Reserve Militia, so help me God." 
On November 10, 1917, General Edward C. Young resigned as Chairman of 
the committee on account of his removal to New York City. On November 21, 
1917, Angus S. Hibbard was appointed chairman ; Edgar A. Bancroft, vice-chair- 
man, and Colonel Leroy T. Steward, then senior colonel of the First Brigade, Illi- 
nois Reserve Militia, was appointed a member of the committee. 

On June 4, 1918, the chairman of the committee, Angus S. Hibbard, was 
granted six months' leave of absence for service in France with the American Red 
Cross, resuming his duties on December 9, 1918. Major Lathrop Collins was ap- 
pointed Director of Military Afifairs. 

Under Act of July 1, 1917, the Legislature of the State of Illinois authorized 
the formation of the Illinois Reserve Militia, to consist of such companies, bat- 
talions, regiments, brigades or other units of land forces as might be determine(f 
bv the Governor, with officers as appointed by him, and to be conducted under 
such rules and regulations as might be fixed and promulgated by the Adjutant 
General with the approval of the Governor, the period of enlistment being not 
longer than two years and the oath of service requiring obedience to the orders 
of the Commander-in-Chief, such organization to be without expense to the State 
of Illinois. 

In September, 1917, upon your instructions. General Young, chairman of this 
committee, reported to Governor Lowden and was requested to form four regi- 
ments of the Illinois Reserve Militia from the forces of the Illinois Volunteer 
Training Corps under his command. Accepting commission as Brigadier General, 
Illinois Reserve Militia, General Young proceeded to do this, and the First, Second, 
Third and Fourth Regiments were speedily formed under the following command : 
First Regiment — Colonel LeRoy T. Steward.* 
Second Regiment — Colonel J. C. Wilson. 
Third Regiment — Colonel Anson L. Bolte. 
Fourth Regiment — Colonel Edward H. Sweitzer. 
*On March 7, 1918, William Nelson Pelouze was made colonel of the First 
Regiment, vice Colonel LeRoy T. Steward, who was made Brigadier General 
in charge of the First Brigade. 

This greatly reduced the enrollment of the Illinois Volunteer Training Corps, 
but new units were organized and drilled and enrollment has continued until this 
date. 

Into the Reserve Militia 

In the summer of 1918 it was determined that all additional units of the Vol- 
unteer Training Corps should be requested to join the Reserve Militia as Depot 
Units. This has been brought about by the formation of a Depot Brigade enlisted 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 241 

for continued training and reserve purposes, so that at the present time there re- 
main in the Volunteer Training Corps under jurisdiction of the committee thirty- 
three units, a Medical Company, four Motor Transport Trains, and a Band. All 
of these are now being transferred to the Reserve Militia as rapidly as possible. 
All that are not so enlisted will be mustered out of the service. 

This transfer or disbanding of the Illinois Volunteer Training Corps units 
completes the services of the Military Afifairs Committee of Cook County. Due 
accounting has been made to the State Council of Defense for all moneys raised 
on behalf of the various units. Twenty-one meetings have been held, generally 
attended by all members of the committee not absent from the city. Very much 
detail work has been taken care of by the volunteer services of the officers and 
members. The work of the committee has been greatly aided by the services of 
Major Lathrop Collins, Captain Walter T. Stockton, Major C. Colton Daughaday, 
Mr. E. C. Kimbell, Mrs. Theodore Nelson and others. The committee is under 
great obligation to Brigadier General LeRoj^ T. Steward for services as Military 
Officer and Advisor and as member of the committee succeeding General Young. 

About 200 rifles loaned to the committee are now, with the permission of the 
owners, being transferred to the Reserve Militia, or returned to the owners. 

With your approval, all funds in the hands of the committee, and not re- 
quired, are being transferred to General Steward for the benefit of the First 
Brigade. 

The committee awaits your instructions as to the date upon which its members 
may present their resignations and may disband. It has been a privilege to have 
been able to be of service to the State in carrying on this work and a pleasure to 
serve under your direction, representing the State Council of Defense. 

Angus S. Hibbard, Chairman. 

John T. Stockton, Secretary. 



APPENDIX XVIII 

COMMERCIAL ECONOMY ADMINISTRATION. 

December 24. 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

This department was created by the State Council of Defense with the under- 
signed in charge, and started work on August 13th, 1918. The following were 
among the volunteer workers aiding in carrying on the activities of the office : 

Mr. Louis H. Hartman Mr. Arthur G. Norris 

Air. Charles Rubens Mr. John Hugh Lally 

Mr. Percy B. Davis Miss Gladys Stone 

Mr. James Flett 

It was ascertained that a number of matters had accumulated which had been 
received by the State Council of Defense prior to the creation of this administra- 
tion from various governmental departments in Washington. Therefore, it was 
necessary to take up these matters and put them into execution under the supervi- 
sion and upon request of the various governmental agencies. 

The matters referred to consisted principally of the delivery plan, which was 
being put into eflfect nationally by the Conservation Division of the War Indus- 
tries Board, and the various pronouncements and recommendations of the Council 
of National Defense, particularly with reference to Christmas shopping. 

There had also been an accumulation of construction propositions, and this 
office endeavored to curtail, restrict and limit construction projects, although no 
authority had been vested in it, and the eflfort was made altogether upon recom- 
mendations received from the Council of National Defense and the War Indus- 
tries Board. 

About a month after the office was organized the Non-War Construction Bu- 
reau was created for the purpose of controlling by license all building projects, and 
that branch of the work was then taken out of this office. 

The work of this office, therefore, was divided into three sections, as follows : 

(a) Curtailment and restriction of deliveries ; merchandise returns 
under supervision and jurisdiction of the United States War Industries 
Board. 

(b) Deliveries in lines and industries other than those covered by the 
United States War Industries Board plan, and initiated by this office. 

(c) Economies and business reforms emanating from this office. 

Upon request of the Fuel Administration, this office also handled all matters 
pertaining to conservation of fuel wdiere no enforcement order had been issued by 
the Fuel Administration. The cases handled consisted principally of bringing 
about reforms in the matter of closing hours. This was done by requesting local 
chairmen to ascertain the wishes of the majority in various towns and communi- 
ties as to closing hours, and thereafter petitions were circulated, and the closing 
hours desired by the majority were made unanimous and put into effect under the 
jurisdiction and supervision of this office. 

Local Organizations Created 

In organizing this administration, it was decided to decentralize the work, 
and, with this in view, a local chairman of the Commercial Economy Administra- 
tion was appointed in every city and town in the state of 2,000 population and over, 
whose duty it was to organize each town and to carry out instructions sent to each 
chairman from time to time by this office. 

The first duty required from each chairman was that he send us the names 
of every merchant in the town having delivery equipment. Immediately upon re- 

242 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 243 

ceipt of these lists, we sent out agreements whereby each merchant agreed to abide 
by the rules laid down by this office, and at the same time placards were sent on 
for distribution among the merchants who had signed up ; the signed agreements 
were then returned to this office and checked against the list of names on file. 
Records were kept showing the percentage of merchants who had signed up in 
each town and, where names were lacking, follow-up letters were sent on, with 
the result that, as per lists in the files, we have many towns in the 100 per cent 
class and many closely approaching that percentage. There is no doubt if the 
war had not come to a conclusion that the entire state very shortly would have 
been 100 per cent. 

Many towns were organized by these local chairmen with the result that there 
has been a decided improvement in working conditions, particularly through th^ 
adoption of earlier closing hours and Sunday closing. 

In Chicago, it was found necessary to organize by trades and, with this in 
mind, the grocers and butchers were organized by the appointment of a local chair- 
man in each of the thirty-five wards. Each local chairman in each ward had under 
him five sub-chairmen appointed by this administration ; we appointed five district 
chairmen, each having supervision over seven ward chairmen, and one general 
chairman, who reported constantly to this office. The five district chairmen, with 
the general chairmen, constituted the Executive Committee of the grocers and 
butchers, and this committee met in this office weekly for the purpose of making 
reports. The result of this organization was that the grocers and butchers in the 
city were thoroughly organized to carry out the one delivery per day plan, each 
dealer having signed an agreement which is in our files, and each having been pro- 
vided with placards from this office, and which were posted prominently in the 
various shops. 

The retail drygoods stores and similar merchants in the city outside the loop 
were organized by dividing the city into nine districts, with a district chairman in 
each, whose duty it was to secure the signatures of the merchants in their respec- 
tive districts to agreements and to distribute among these merchants, who had 
signed up, placards with reference to delivery and return of merchandise. 

Chicago Stores in Line 

Numerous meetings were held with the representatives of the large retail 
stores in the loop, and an organization was perfected with the undersigned as 
chairman. All stores signed agreements, which are in the files, whereby all the 
restrictions and limitations emanating from this office were complied with. All 
the stores displayed placards, issued by this office, in great profusion and all 
worked with this office in perfect harmony. 

The stores in the loop other than the large drygoods and department stores 
were organized with chairmen in charge of the following lines : 

Cloaks, Suits and Millinery. 

Gents' Furnishings. 

Jewelry, Sporting Goods and Leather Goods. 

Men's Hats and Furs. 

Furriers. 

Shoes. 

Furniture. 

Retail Clothiers. 

City Delivery Companies. 

Music Houses. 

The above were all organized, signed up agreements, which are in the files, 
and displayed large placards. 

In the matter of Christmas shopping, this office prepared bulletins of instruc- 
tions to the public, requesting co-operation. These bulletins were published in the 
newspaper advertisements of the various stores; were distributed in the monthly 
bills of the Commonwealth Edison Company and the Peoples Gas Company; were 
thrown upon the screens of moving picture houses, and were given publicity gener- 
ally in the newspapers in the city, as well as down-State through the activity of the 
publicity department of the State Council of Defense. It may be fitting at this 



244 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

time to acknowledge the able assistance rendered by the State Council Publicity 
Department in bringing various reforms emanating from this office prominently 
before the public. 

In the matter of economies other than those above referred to, this office de- 
voted much effort to getting those engaged in various lines and industries together, 
and many reforms and economies were brought about ; many were about to be con- 
summated, when the sudden ending of the war resulted in the abandonment of this 
plan, principally for the reason that it removed the jurisdiction and supervision of 
this office, which appeared to be necessary in order to get these merchants to- 
gether. 

Many Miscellaneous Economies 

In addition to the activities above mentioned, among the various lines and in- 
dustries with which this office dealt, in many instances having succeeded in effecting 
agreements, were : 

Retail Clothiers — Alteration reforms. 

Retail Jewelers— Silver engraving reforms. 

Wholesale Paper — Delivery Reforms. 

Tea and Coffee Merchants — Delivery reforms. 

Soft Drink Bottlers — Delivery and other reforms. 

City Delivery Companies — Delivery reforms. 

Music Houses — Phonograph record selling reforms. 

Building Managers' Association — Building operation reforms. 

Laundry Owners — Delivery and operating reforms. 

Cleaners and Dyers — Delivery reforms and closing hours. 

Wholesale Fruit Jobbers — Delivery and return goods reforms. 

Wholesale Grocers and Food Producis -Delivery and return goods 

Wholesale Bakers — Delivery reforms. 

Milk Deliveries — Preliminary meetings to bring about more econom- 
ical milk distribution. 

While merchants generally were inclined to enter into plans for the adoption 
of reforms and economies, having as the principal purpose the releasing oi man- 
power, conservation of fuel, equipment and materials, yet it was necessary in each 
case to hold a number of meetings for the purpose of arriving at plans which 
would bring about the reforms, restrictions and curtailments to be carried out 
equitably and without prejudice to any individual or individuals. 

The sudden termination of hostilities interfered with the plan to obtain def- 
inite reports showing the conservation resulting, and particularly the man-power 
released through the above restrictions, but there is little doubt as to the release 
of many men and much equipment, as well as conservation of fuel, materials, 
money, etc. 

The files of this office are being turned over to the State Council, and it will 
be quite apparent therefrom that an effort was made to keep in touch with every 
activity in the office. These files also contain lists of nearly every merchant in the 
State ; local chairmen in nearly every town and city over 2,000 population ; list 
showing percentages arrived at in each town and city; lists of chairmen of various 
lines and industries in the city. 

In conclusion, it is much to be regretted that more time was not allotted to 
this office to put into effect the various reforms and curtailments, as these would 
undoubtedly have been continued had they been in force for a sufficient length of 
time. Letters have been written to all those representing this office, expressing the 
hope that merchants will organize among themselves for the purpose of continuing 
the reforms already adopted and with those under contemplation. It is doubtful, 
however, that this will be done without having some properly constituted agent or 
agency maintaining jurisdiction and supervision. 

It was decided to discontinue the activities of this office December 1st, 1918. 

Respectfully submitted, 
Louis M. Stumer, Commercial Economy Adnnnistrator. 



APPENDIX XIX 

NON-WAR CONSTRUCTION BUREAU 

November 30, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

On file in the records of the Council is a summary of the cost of construction 
projects deferred until after the war, totaling in 

Cook County $10,784,381.43 

All Counties except Cook 3,088,942.92 



$13,873,324.35 

Non-War Construction Committees were organized in 89 counties. A list of 
the names and addresses of our committeemen is attached hereto. (On file in 
records of Council.) 

The following men generously oflfered their services to the Bureau : Mr. Carl 
Bushnell, Mr. Percy B. Davies, Mr. Harry Sugru and Mr. E. L. Hanson. In ad- 
dition to the names of men shown as members of the Cook County Committee, we 
have attached a special list of Cook County Investigators. (On file in records of 
the Council.) 

During the two months that the Bureau was in existence, from September 17tb 
to November 17th, 1918, eight bulletins, nine circulars, five special letters, five forms 
of questionnaires, and six forms of permits were sent to all county committees. 
In counties where industrial conditions warranted erecting additional houses, spe- 
cial housing literature was sent to the county chairmen. Copies of prints matter, 
totaling 36, prepared and used by this Bureau are also attached. (All of which 
are on file in the office of the Council.) 

Respectfully submitted, 

E. W. Lloyd, Secretary. 



.45 



APPENDIX XX 

PUBLIC SERVICE RESERVE COMMITTEE 

December 3, 1918. 

To the State Council of Defense: 

For the records of the State Council of Defense, I am transmitting a final report 
covering the enrollment of skilled mechanics, in connection with the shipbuilding 
campaign, under the auspices of the State Council of Defense. 

On January 17, 1918, the Council of National Denfense, at the request of the 
U. S. Shipping Board, telegraphed the Illinois State Council of Defense, asking its 
assistance in a campaign for the enrollment of 250,000 skilled workers, as a re- 
serve force for work in the shipyards of the United States. 

A quota of 23,662 men was assigned for the State of Illinois. This quota was 
computed largely on the basis of total population. 

In conjunction with the Counties Auxiliary, the Four Minute Men and the 
labor offices of the State of Illinois, 54 enrollment offices were organized, one in 
each of the important industrial centers of the State. These offices were fully in- 
structed and provided with the necessary registration cards on Friday, February 
1, 1918. 

As a result there were secured the names and addresses and occupations of 
29,613 volunteers. The enrollment campaign was closed on March 1, 1919. Ap- 
proximately 83 per cent of the men registering were secured in Chicago, and 
approximately 1/ per cent of the registrants were secured throughout the balance 
of the State. 

In connection with this registration, this office received and answered 2,449 
letters pertaining to work in the shipyards. More than 10,000 personal interviews 
were granted to registrants. 

In addition to the 29,613 skilled mechanics who were enrolled, we received 135 
applications from 18 different States. These applications were referred to the 
State Director of the U. S. Public Service Reserve in the State in which the 
applicant lived. 

The enrollment cards thus received were catalogued and indexed, this work 
comprising three volumes. One copy was retained by the State Council of De- 
fense and one copy forwarded to the U. S. Public Service Reserve at Washington, 
D.C. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Charles A. Munroe, Chairman. 



246 



APPENDIX XXI 

CIVILIAN PERSONNEL COMMITTEE 

November 30th, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

To facilitate the work committed to your Committee on Civilian Personnel, I 
was, on December 17, 1917, appointed special representative of the Civilian Per- 
sonnel Section of the Ordnance Department, U. S. Army, for Chicago, for the pur- 
pose of securing applicants for positions in Government service for that depart- 
ment. 

Since then I have secured applications for the following branches of Govern- 
ment service, totalling 2,112, exclusive of all enlistments, inductions, etc., for for- 
eign service in the Army : 

Ordnance Department 

Mechanical Draftsmen 155 

Inspectors of Ordnance Material, including ammunition, steel, gun 
carriages, rubber tires, fabrics for same, small arms and small 
arms material,, field artillery ammunition, ammunition packing 
boxes, motor trucks, time fuses, cannons, gunfire-control instru- 
ments, forgings, castings, etc 371 

Munition workers 130 

Machinists 89 

Stenographers 262 

Junior Chemists 139 

Engineers of Tests of Ordnance Material 52 

Index and Catalog Clerks 38 

Junior Accountants 93 

Experts in Business Administration 34 

Metallurgical Chemists 27 

Clerks Qualified in Business Administration and Accounting 16 

Bookkeeper-Clerks 16 

Statisticians 17 

Statistical and Accounting Clerks 14 

Production Clerks 16 

Accountants 12 

Typists 29 

Cost Accountant Supervisors 9 

Schedule Clerks 9 

Balance of Stores Clerk 9 

Inspectors of Construction 10 

Clerks 7 

Telegraph Operators 3 

Executives 2 

Assistant to Business Managers 6 

Steel Plant Clerks 6 

Mechanical Engineers 6 

Storekeepers 6 

Miscellaneous 5 

Applications secured and referred to the Production Department, 
Ordnance Department, Chicago, for mechanical, civil and electrical 

engineers and chief machinists 21 

Cost accountants secured for Field Section of the Signal Corps, 

Washington 42 

Referred to the Signal Corps office, Chicago : Acetylene Welders, 

17; Expert Watch Repairman, 1; Cost Accountants, 9 27 

247 



248 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Applications secured for the Chief of Signal Corps, Washington, 
D. C, for telephone service for women speaking both French 
and English fluently 2 

Successful applicants for special work for the Chief of Staff's 
office, Washington, D. C 60 

For the Air Service Board, applicants for ground service in the 
Aviation Section il 

For the Signal Corps, applicants for service abroad as telegraph 
operators, telephone linemen and construction chiefs 44 

Applications referred to other Special Representatives of the Ord- 
nance Department for various positions, from applicants out- 
side of the State of Illinois 72 

Applications secured and referred to the Chicago office of the 
United States Shipping Board, for positions as mechanical engi- 
neers, civil engineers and electrical engineers 17 

Applications secured for secretarial-stenographic positions, for the 
War Industries Board, Washington, D. C 49 

Applications secured for secretarial-stenographic positions for the 
United States Shipping Board, Washington, D. C 7 

Referred to the Central War Department, U. S. Army, thoroughly 
experienced construction men (successful applicants will receive 
Army Commissions for overseas duty) 44 

Machinists, munition, metal and clerical workers, etc., for the Rock 
Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois 256 

FOR ARMY SERVICE IN FRANCE 

Recruiting for a Mechanical Regiment from January 14th, 1918, to 
January 21, 1918; 908 applicants were interviewed. Applicants 
accepted 129 

Applicants for Mechanical Regiment for service in France, 37th 
Engineers, 371 inducted into the service and 96 enlisted 467 

Applicants for a Railroad Regiment for service in France, sent to 
Major E. N. Sanctuary, Washington, D. C, 265 inducted into 
the service and 34 enlisted 299 

Applicants for the Aviation Section of the Army 309 

RECAPITULATION 

Ordnance Department 2112 

Production Department 21 

Signal Corps, Chicago 27 

Signal Corps, Washington 88 

Chief of Staff's office, Washington, D. C 60 

Air Service Board Zl 

Special Representatives, Ordnance Department, outside of the State 

of Illinois 72 

United States Shipping Board, Chicago 17 

United States Shipping Board, Washington, D. C 7 

War Industries Board, Washington, D. C 49 

Central War Department, United States Army 44 

Rock Island Arsenal 256 

Mechanical Regiment for France 129 

Thirty-seventh Engineers 467 

Railroad Regiment for France 299 

Aviation Section of the Army 309 

3994 
In addition to the above, I have received and answered approximately 3,500 
letters of inquiry, and have referred most of these inquirers, who could not 
qualify for our work, to other offices or departments where their services might 
be needed. Respectfully submitted. 

Mil WARD Adams, 
Special Representative Civilian Personnel Section, Ordnance Dept., U. S. Army. 



APPENDIX XXII 

HOME REGISTRATION SERVICE COMMITTEE 

December 17, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

This Committee, authorized by you on July 12, 1918, and appointed by your 
Chairman, was created to deal with the problems involved in housing the 
increasing number of operatives required by essential war industries in the indus- 
trial centers of the state and in adjacent territory, which work has been done 
under the direction of the following Executive Committee : 

Charles A. Munroe, Chairman; Milward Adams, Secretary; F. O. 

Hester, Assistant Secretary; Dr. F. L. Prentiss, D. H. Burnham, E. H. 

Bennett, Prof. Geo. H. Mead, S. J. Earned, R. B. Beach, Howard G. 

Hetzler, L. A. Busby, S. R. Kaufman. 

The Committee undertook its work with the conviction that the industrial 
district comprising the southern part of Chicago and the adjacent Indiana steel 
towns was destined to become one of almost unparalleled size and importance, 
and that a careful study should be made, embracing not only its complicated 
housing problems, but the collateral problems of city planning, transportation, 
sanitation, water supply, etc., to provide a guide for proper development of the 
district. 

About the same time, the Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of 
Architects was asked by the Director of the United States Housing Corpora- 
tion to make a study and report on housing in the industrial districts of Chicago 
and the adjacent territory. The then president of the Chapter, Mr. D. H. Burn- 
ham, Jr., and some of the members with whom he conferred, saw in this an 
opportunity of public service, both during the war and after its termination, from 
the point of view of housing and general city planning. 

To co-ordinate and facilitate all branches of the work to be done, the 
Architects and City Planning Committee of the American Institute of Archi- 
tects was, by your authority, made a sub-committee of the Home Registration' 
Service Committee, and was finally constituted as follows : 

Edward H. Bennett, Chairman ; D. H. Burnham, W. E. Parsons, 

Elmer C. Jensen, Richard E. Schmidt, George C. Nimmons, Howard 

VanDoren Shaw, Martin Roche, Geo. W. Maher, President Illinois 

Chapter, A. I. A., ex-officio. 

The Architects' Committee had the cooperation of other sub-committees of 
the Home Registration Service Committee, as follows : 

Sub-Committee on Survey of Available Housing — Charles R. Bixby, 

Chairman; Perkins B. Bass, George E. Hooker, Miss Ruth Abbott, S. J. 

Earned, Wyllys W. Baird, Wm. A. Bond, Robert E. Brooks, Prof. Geo. 

H. Mead, Charles B. Ball. 

Sub-Committee on Transportation — E. A. Turpin, Chairman ; Wm. 

H. Scriven, Britton I. Budd, Howard G. Hetzler, S. M. Rogers. 

Sub -Committee on Sun'ey of Industries — John M. Glenn, Chair- 
man; R. B. Beach, Louis T. Jamme, Thos. J. McKenny. 

Sub-Committee on Finance — Clayton Mark, Chairman ; Edward B. 

Butler, Walter S. Brewster. 

The program adopted provided for recommendations to the United States 
Government Housing Corporation on the following subjects: 

1. Housing accommodations already existing : 

(a) Adjacent to industrial plants; 

(b) Within reach of existing lines of transportation ; 

(c) Classification for future reference. 

249 



250 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

2. Additional housing accommodations to be provided by the extension 

of existing towns : 

(a) Adjacent to factory districts; 

(b) In other towns which might be made accessible by transpor- 

tation. 

3. Additional housing accommodations to be created in a new center, 

or centers, and made accessible by proper transportation connec- 
tions with groups of industrial centers or with the entire region. 

Housing Survey 

The Sub-Committee on Survey of available housing made a complete 
"census" of such accoinmodations in the Chicago territory south of 31st street, 
and lying west of Halsted street. The results of this "census" were mapped and' 
tabulated in sixty-three zones. The tabulation showed : 4469 rooms and 505 
housekeeping units in houses within the territory surveyed ; 27,788 rooms and 
4,079 housekeeping units in flats within the territory; 2,832 rooms in hotels 
within the territory; making a total of 35,089 rooms and 4,584 housekeeping 
units. These maps and tabulations were accompanied by explanatory charts 
and deductions indicating by percentages the character of population in each" 
zone (whether white or colored), allowing for rooms which might not be avail- 
able for industrial workers. 

Transportation Survey 

The Transportation Sub-Committee made a complete survey of transporta- 
tion facilities covering the entire district, including the steel towns of Indiana, 
by street cars, by interurban and by steam routes. It also worked out running 
time schedules and suggested changes which might be made to facilitate trans- 
portation of industrial workers, and recommended track extensions, many of 
which were being acted upon at armistice time. 

Sanitation and Water Supply 

By courtesy of Mr. George M. Wisner, Chief Engineer of the Sanitary 
District of Chicago, your Committee was furnished a statement and charts 
covering water supply, sewerage and typhoid conditions in the Calumet region 
of Illinois and Indiana, embracing that part of Chicago south of 87th street, 
and the northwestern Indiana industrial district, including Whiting, East Chi- 
cago, Hammond and Gary. 

The results of all the work described in the foregoing were transmitted 
to Washington on October 15, 1918, together with maps, charts, etc., and sup- 
plemental statements were submitted on October 30, 1918. 

The expenses of the work were defrayed from a small fund appropriated by 
the United States Housing Corporation, and from a fund raised by the Sub- 
Committee on Finance of the Home Registration Service Committee of the 
Conncil. Respectfully submitted, 

Charles A. Munroe, Chairman. 



APPENDIX XXIII 

FINAL REPORT OF THE HIGHWAYS TRANSPORT COMMITTEE 

June 30, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The Highways Transport Committee was one of the auxiliary committees of 
the Illinois State Council of Defense, as well as a branch of the Highway Trans- 
port Committee of the Council of National Defense. 

The purpose for which the committee was created was to promote more effec- 
tive transportation over the highways as a means of strengthening the nation's 
transportation system ; to increase existing facilities for the distribution of food- 
stuffs and other necessities of life; and, during the active participation of the 
United States in war, to relieve the railroads of the burden of short haul and L. C. 
L. (less than car loads) traffic, thus releasing equipment vital to war requirements. 

Membership of the Committee 

The committee, as first appointed by the Council, primarily to promote high- 
way maintenance, was composed of the State's five highway engineers. When 
its functions were broadened, the five engineers became the highways division of 
the committee, so that the full committee as appointed by the Council on April 19, 
1918, was composed of the following: 

Transport Division — Henry Paulman, Chairman ; F. E. Ertsman, 

Secretary; John T. Stockton, John H. Winterbotham, C. F. Handshy, H. 

M. Allison, J. Murray Page, Wm. G. Edens, Britton I. Budd, Leonard A. 

Busby, C. S. Freeman, Jos. F. Davis. 

Highways Division — Clifford Older, Chairman ; L Schwartz, H. E. 

Surman, A. H. Hunter, R. L. Bell. 

Later Messrs. Handshy and Stockton resigned — Mr. Handshy because of in- 
ability to devote sufficient time, and Mr. Stockton because of his appointment by 
the National Highways Transport Committee to be Regional Director of Region 
No. 6 ; and Mr. George W. Dixon was appointed to be a member of the committee. 

Organization, Administration and Operation 

For purposes of committee organization, the State was divided into five 
geographical districts, and a field council of five was created, one member from 
each district, as follows : 

District No. 1 — Franklyn R. MuUer, Chairman. 
District No. 2 — W. E. Hull, Acting Chairman. 
District No. 3 — C. A. Kiler, Chairman. 
District No. A — C. W. H. Schuck, Chairman. 
District No. 5 — O. L. Herbert, Chairman. 
Each of the districts was, for convenience, divided into five divisions, the 
boundaries of each following established county lines, the county thus being the' 
unit upon which the organization was built. In each district the five division chair- 
men, with the district chairman, constituted the district committee ; in each divi- 
sion the county chairman, together with the district chairman, constituted the 
division committee ; and in each county the chairmen of local committees, to- 
gether with the county chairman, constituted the county committee. 

Members of all sub-committees and city, county, village and community com- 
mittees, were selected with the advice of the chairmen of the various State Coun- 
cil of Defense county organizations and included representatives of existing or- 
ganizations such as associations of commerce, manufacturers, merchants, truck- 
men and growers' associations, and — in an advisory capacity — representatives of 

251 



252 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

the federal food, fuel and railroad administrations, of local railways, of electric 
interurban lines and of steamboat and barge lines, etc. 

Practically all of the district and division organizations were complete and 
functioning, but in many portions of the State the county and local organizations 
were more or less incomplete, when the activities of the committee ceased. 

Survey of Highway Conditions 

Inasmuch as the success of any system of highways transportation is depen- 
dent upon the existence of highways suitable for heavy traffic, a survey of highway 
conditions in the State was undertaken by the Highways Division of the commit- 
tee, which developed the fact that, except in the northeastern portion of the state 
and at isolated points elsewhere, no suitable roads existed. 

As a rsult of this, the field organization devoted its first efforts to those 
sections where road conditions were best, and the State Committee gave particu- 
lar attention to the northeastern section, where not only highway, but all other 
conditions — industrial, transportation, etc. — were more favorable to the develop- 
ment of highways transport than in any other part of the State. 

As a matter of policy, however, the committee undertook to bring about the 
maintenance in the best possible condition of those trunk-line and through-route 
highways which available information indicated to be of the greatest importance in 
the' distribution of food stuffs and other necessities of life; and, in this, the local 
and State authorities co-operated faithfully. 

Work in the Chicago Territory 

Because of the probably catastrophic effect that would follow any interruption 
of traffic in that territory, highways transportation in Illinois reached its fullest 
development in the territory sometimes known as the "Chicago Industrial Dis- 
trict," and the territory comprised, roughly, within the counties of Lake, Cook, 
Dupage, Will, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, Grundy and DeKalb in Illinois, and— in 
agreement with the Indiana Committee — Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana. 

In this territory comprehensive industrial surveys, surveys of highways trans- 
port equipment, and surveys of road conditions in detail were undertaken, for 
which purpose local committees were created in practically all the principal centers 
of population ; and upon the information derived from these surveys there was 
established a system of return loads bureaus, motor express lines, and feeders to 
the rails. 

As a result, at the time of the discontinuance of the activities of the commit- 
tee, more than fifty per cent of the short-haul and L. C. L. tonnage, originating 
in and consigned to points within a radius of 35 to 50 miles of Chicago, was moved 
by road transport ; and plans were completed and tentative arrangements made to 
move every pound of freight of whatever nature within the territory described 
should it have been necessary, as was at one time intimated, for the Federal Gov- 
ernment to lay a rail embargo in the Chicago District. 

Motor Express Lines and Return Loads Bureaus 

During the early stages of the committee's activities considerable effort was 
devoted to the establishment of Return Loads Bureaus, so called, it being the 
object of these bureaus to afford a clearing-house whereby shippers might be put 
in touch with truckmen whose equipment was returning empty to points to which 
shippers had goods awaiting transportation. This method proved to be fairly 
satisfactory in bringing together the irregular shipper and the occasional truck- 
man ; but developments early emphasized the fact that the regular shipper re^ 
quired more dependable facilities before he could substitute highways transport, 
to any great extent, for shipment by rail. This necessarily involved the estab- 
lishment of regularly operating motor express lines, running on fixed schedules 
and carrying freight both ways ; and the committee proceeded upon the theory 
that ultimately the bulk of the business would be transferred to such lines. 

Merely as an example of this development, it is interesting to note that in the 
Chicago territory this policy brought about the establishment of new lines and the 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 253 

extension of existing ones to the extent that the territory was gridironed by nine- 
teen motor express lines, operating daily on regular schedule, over definitely 
located routes. 

Much also was accomplished in this respect in and about the larger centers 
of distribution throughout the State; but unfortunately, unfavorable highway con- 
ditions brought about the discontinuance of large numbers of these lines before 
their value to the various communities could be demonstrated. 

The transfer of freight in such an unprecedented amount in this manner, it 
was felt by the committee, would involve careful supervision, such as control of 
rates, in co-operation with the Public Utilities Commission ; the abandonment by 
some shippers of the use of their own trucks for one-way hauls, and the substi- 
tution of motor express service; the establishment of central collecting and dis- 
tributing stations for the common use of truckmen, with local facilities for the col- 
lection and distribution of package freight; the establishment of local feeders to 
electric interurban and trolley lines where available for the longer hauls, etc. 

Utilization of Electric Railways 

In view of the unfortunate condition of the highways throughout the State, 
plans were developed for utilization of short-line interurban electric railways, 
with motor express feeders, as the best available substitute for a comprehensive 
State-wide system of road transport. 

Utilization of the electric lines in this maimer served a double purpose — it 
aided to overcome in a measure the handicap of bad road conditions, and it re- 
leased for use in territories not then served by existing transportation systems, 
motor trucks which might otherwise have duplicated existing service in manj* 
communities. 

Supervision of Rates 

It early became apparent that in order to divert rail traffic to road transport 
in any appreciable amount, some supervision of rates must be undertaken for the 
protection both of the shipper and the truckman. This at first took the somewhat 
disconnected form of conferences with individual express line operators, and 
answers to inquiries from individual shippers ; but later a sub-committee, under 
the direction of Mr. Walter Wardrop, chairman, went very thoroughly and com- 
prehensively into the whole subject of rates as applicable particularly to then 
existing Illinois conditions. 

Keeping the Highways Open 

Inasmuch as the proper functioning of any system of highways transport 
is dependent largely upon the highways being kept open for traffic, steps were 
taken to maintain the main routes — the trunk lines — in suitable condition during 
bad weather. This was accomplished through the earnest and loyal co-operation 
of the various district, county and township highway commissioners, and the 
authorities of the various municipalities affected. 

General Conclusions 

Since the development of road transport in Illinois was undertaken primarily 
as an emergency measure, to meet as satisfactorily as might be an unprecedented 
situation with regard to the movement of merchandise, the committee endeavored 
to close its work as soon as possible after the termination of the emergency 
which had called forth its activities. 

Consequently, subsequent to February 24, 1919, the committee practically 
ceased to function ; the organization, however, being maintained and ready to 
undertake any further responsibilities that might be imposed upon it pending 
such time as the members would be released from their obligations by the 
parent body. 

A complete record of the Highways Transport Committee activities, accom- 
panied by maps, charts and tabulated data, all too voluminous for inclusion in 
this report, has been filed with the State Council of Defense for permanent 
preservation and reference. Respectfully submitted, 

F. E. Ertsman, Secretary. 



APPENDIX XXIV 

COMMITTEE ON ENGINEERING AND INVENTIONS 

Chicago, November 12, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

Referring to your favor of November 1st, as to the work of the Engineering 
and Inventions Committee : I enclose report of Mr. S. H. Lloyd, Secretary. 
This shows the total number of inventions received as 2,458*. Of this number 
60, in the opinion of the Committee, were worthy of serious further consider- 
ation ; 200 the Committee felt were of doubtful value but still had enough possi- 
bility to give them recommendation for further consideration; and 2,198 in the 
Committee's judgment, were valueless. The inventions indorsed for further 
consideration and for doubtful further consideration were all sent to the Navai 
Consulting Board in New York until within a month ago, when the Board 
was moved to Washington, and the inventions received after that time were 
sent there. 

We have no definite information as to what became of any of these inven- 
tions, as our duties were completed when these inventions were sent to the 
Naval Consulting Board. 

During the period that the Committee has been in action, 2,443 people have 
been interviewed in regard to inventions or suggestions that they had to ofifer. 
The result of these interviews in the majority of cases was that the inventor 
was sent away satisfied that his suggestions were not of value. Where they 
had some possible usefulness, they were informed that the matter was in the 
hands of the Naval Consulting Board. 

Just how much value the service of the Committee has been it is difficult to 
say, as far as actual, concrete valuable inventions resulted, but we feel that the 
fact of the Committee being available here tended to make men who had sug- 
gestions to offer feel that their services were appreciated. Further than this, 
we could not go. 

The Committee wish to thank you and your associates for your prompt and 
cordial cooperation in this work. 

Yours very truly, 

F. K. CoPELAND, Chairman. 

"Enclosures referred to are tabulations of information given above, on file in records of 
the State Council. The members of this committee were: Frederick K. Copeland, chairman; 
Bion J. Arnold, member U. S. Naval Consulting Board; William Hoskins, Robert W 
Hunt, Peter Junkersfeld. 



254 



APPENDIX XXV 

COMMITTEE ON SPY GLASSES, TELESCOPES AND 
BINOCULARS 

December 3, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

Up to date this Committee has collected and forwarded to Washington 
glasses for the use of the Navy numbering 2,306, and under the existing condi- 
tions we believe our efforts are at an end and ask that you permit us to disband. 
Our activities covered a period of ten months, and the total net expense 
for that time amounted to $869.44. 

We wish to express our gratitude to you for appointing us, and trust that 
our work has been satisfactory, and with kind regards, beg to remain 

Very truly yours, 

Secor Cunningham, Chairman. 



255 



APPENDIX XXVI 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY 

Chicago, December 27, 1918. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The Advisory Committee of the Electrical Industry was organized in July, 
1917, to handle all matters relating to the electrical industry that might be 
referred to it by the State Council of Defense, and especially to assist in 
recruiting, training and promoting organizations to cooperate with the United 
States Army Signal Corps. Its members were as follows : 

Consulting Board — Louis A. Ferguson, Chairman; Henry M. 

Byllesby, Bernard E. Sunny, Homer E. Niesz, Frank Redmund, Alva 

H. Krom. 

C ommitteemen—C\\2Lr\&?, M. Baker, Frank J. Baker, William Bell, 

Britton I. Budd, H. J. Burt, William J. Crumpton, Augustus D. Curtis, 

E. J. Evans, Harvey B. Fleming, John P. Garner, Charles H. Gaunt, 

Harry L. Grant, Sam A. Hobson, Arthur S. Huey, Alartin J. Insull, 

John E. Kearns, S. L. Konenkamp, Alva H. Krom, R. I. Mansfield, T. 

Julian McGill, Harry A. Mott, Homer E. Neisz. Franklin Overbagh, 

Norman J. Pierce, Frank Redmund, J. F. Schilt. 

The Committee conducted recruiting campaigns to secure men of special 
electrical experience (the first need was for telegraphers) for the Army and 
Navy, and organized and directed schools to train men for war service. The 
first recruiting campaign was supplemented by 25,000 four-color folders, entitled 
"The Nerves of the- Army," which were used later to great advantage to enlist 
students in the telegraph, radio and buzzer schools, and several orders were 
reprinted at cost for cooperative schools and councils of defense in other 
states. Many special notices and bulletins were issued in addition to a great 
amount of first class correspondence to assist in preparing and enrolling men to 
train for the Signal Corps. 

The Committee printed 10,000 red, white and blue calendars and distributed 
them in public places, calling attention to the advantage of Aviation and Signal 
Corps service. These were sent to the schools and to all electrical concerns in 
Illinois. 

It was found necessary to organize schools to meet the demand by training 
those who were qualified to enlist or be inducted under the selective service 
law. In cooperation with the District Signal Officer of the United States Army, 
forty-two such schools were organized in Chicago and about fifteen other cities 
of the state, and a total of 8,000 students were enrolled for courses in radio and 
buzzer work. The school conducted by the Chicago Board of Trade had 6,500 
students. 

The Committee was financed by contributions from a large number of elec- 
trical firms and permanent headquarters were maintained at the State Council of 
Defense offices in Chicago. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Homer E. Niesz, Chairman. 



256 



APPENDIX XXVII 

U. S. SHIPPING BOARD SCHOOLS 

June 3, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

To the present time 262 licensed officers have been turned out by the Chi- 
cago School of Navigation of the United States Shipping Board. They are of 
the following grades and numbers : 
15 ocean masters 
2)2 chief mates of oceans 

HI second mates of oceans 

104 third mates of oceans 

Of these 262 men, 51 were officers on ships which were taken over by the 
Navy : 3 were given the rank of Lieut. Commanders ; 5 were given the rank 
of Lieutenants, senior grade; 12 were given the rank of Lieutenants, junior 
grade ; 25 were given the rank of Ensigns ; 6 more declined commissions ofifered 
by the navy and remained with the Merchant Service on other ships. 

The Chicago School of Navigation has been under the direction of Dr. Oliver 
J. Lee of the Research Staff of the Yerkes Observatory since its initiation July 
10, 1917. From Sept, 1, 1917, to Jan 15, 1919, it was associated as a department 
with the Illinois State Council of Defense, enjoying the use of excellent 
quarters and service, and was the recipient of innumerable courtesies from the 
Chairman of the Council, as well as from every co-worker in the organization. 

Only men with sea experience were admitted to the School of Naviga- 
tion. Between 80 and 90 per cent of the graduates are still in the service as 
officers on cargo ships. Most of these are making it a peace time business as 
well as a wartime service. It should be remembered that while the war was 
on its dangers were only surpassed by the fighting branches of the army. 

The school is now located at 35 S. Dearborn street, Chicago, and will prob- 
ably be continued by the Shipping Board for some time. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Oliver J. Lee, Director. 

SCHOOL FOR ENGINE ROOM OFFICERS 

February 14, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

Since beginning in July, 1917, we have enrolled, up to the first of February, 
about 650 men. Of this number about 26 of them have received chief license; 
about 70 first assistant license; 120, second assistant; 75 third assistant and about 
250 of the men shipped out as reserves. There are about 50 of whom we have 
not heard as to what grade of license they received, but all of the men who 
graduated were eligible for examination. About 50 dropped out of the class 
altogether. 

We are still conducting the class and will do so for a few months longer. 
Of course, the classes are not as large as they were last summer, as we enroll 
now an average of 15 a month. The class of men are those who intend to follow 
up this line of work and not return to their former positions. 

Respectfully submitted, 

P. C. Huntley, 
Prof, in Charge Marine Engineering. 

257 



APPENDIX XXVIII 

COMMITTEE ON LAW AND LEGISLATION 

Chicago, December 2, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense of Illinois: 

The following is a brief epitome of the work done by the Committee on 
Law and Legislation since the organization of the State Council : 

We have prepared and published two booklets containing legal rules and prin- 
ciples for the guidance of soldiers and sailors and local legal boards. We 
have rendered 43 opinions on various matters, and have drafted a considerable 
number of resolutions and bills for proposed legislation. We have drawn a 
number of contracts, and co-operated in the drafting of the charter, by-laws, 
and other papers connected with the formation of the Seed Corn Administration. 
We have attended a considerable number of conferences held with reference to 
matters coming within the jurisdiction of the State Council. 

We devoted nearly two months, the larger part thereof continuously, in 
connection with the control and regulation of the production, distribution, sup- 
ply and price of coal. We have looked after various matters in Washington, 
pertaining to the State Council, have attended conferences there and partici- 
pated in the proceedings and drafting of resolutions, etc., in matters connectetl 
with Americanization, and have also attended a conference there with the 
State Councils Section of the Council of National Defense, at which matters 
of general information pertaining to the relations between the National and 
State Councils were considered and discussed. 

We have advised the State Council and its various Committees upon all 
legal questions that from time to time have been by them submitted to us. The 
memoranda and details of the work discharged by your Committee is contained 
among its records and files, available for purposes of reference. We do not 
deem it desirable to specify the exact nature and character of the numerous 
legal questions upon which the Committee has passed, because many of the 
questions are of a confidential kind. 

Respectfully submitted. 

Levy Mayer, Chairman. 



258 



APPENDIX XXIX 

WAR RECREATION BOARD OF ILLINOIS AND WAR CAMP 
COMMUNITY SERVICE 

February 8, 1919. 

To the State Council of Defense: 

The War Recreation Board of Illinois was organized on call of the State 
Council of Defense, December 5th, 1917, this organization being eflfected in 
compliance with the request of the War and Navy Department Commissions on 
Training Camp Activities. The Governing Board was composed of the fol- 
lowing : 

Clifford W. Barnes, Chairman John J. Mitchell, Treasurer 

Jacob M. Dickinson, Vice-Chairman Frank D. Loomis, Secretary 

A. G. Becker Charles W. Folds 

William C. Boyden David R. Forgan 

E. J. Bui^ington Leroy A. Goddard 

L. A. Busby Angus S. Hibbard 

R. Floyd Clinch Morton D. Hull 

William E. Clow Mrs. Samuel Insull 

Alfred Cowles Mrs. Edwin T. Johnson 

Richard T. Crane W. Scott Keith 

Rufus C. Dawes Eugene U. Kimbark 

Marquis Eaton Carl R. Latham 

Percy B. Eckhart George A. McKinlock 

Howard Elting D. R. McLennan 

The first important official act of the Board was to provide for the con- 
struction and equipment of a Central Soldiers' & Sailors' Club. A four story 
building was leased at 207 West Washington street, and eighteen thousand 
dollars ($18,000) was expended in improvements and equipment. _ The building 
was formally opened on March 23rd with all the ordinary facilities of a goocP 
man's club. To June 30, 1918, the total registration of soldiers and sailors 
there was 26,235, with the attendance growing each week. The funds for 
equipment and maintenance of this Club were provided by members of the 
Union League, Commercial and Chicago Clubs. 

During the summer months, the club became so crowded that it was evi- 
dent another similar place was needed, and the building of the Khaki and Blue 
Club in Grant Park was begun in August. This large and splendidly equipped 
clubhouse was opened for use about October 1st, 1918. It likewise has been 
very successful. The average number of men using each of these clubs each' 
week has been approximately 10,000. 

A third club was established in December at 3033 South Wabash avenue (a 
temporary location) for the special use of colored soldiers. On February 1st 
this club was moved to 3201 S. Wabash avenue. 

Recreational Work Correlated 

The Board early undertook to correlate the activities of various organiza- 
tions and groups of individuals engaged in providing hospitality and entertain- 

259 



260 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

ment for the enlisted men visiting in Chicago and vicinity. For this purpose, 
and to keep the men advised of the various entertainments offered, the Board 
began the publication of a weekly bulletin, in which the events in Chicago and 
vicinity were listed. This bulletin immediately became very popular, and its 
publication has been carried forward regularly every week, excepting a few 
weeks during the epidemic of influenza when all parties were stopped, to this 
time. The weekly distribution has averaged 20,000. 

In correlating the social work of the Board a Hostess Committee has had 
charge of various dances and hospitality activities. In the larger parties each 
Saturday and each Sunday upwards of two thousand men have been entertained. 
Probably an equal number were entertained in private homes. A committee on 
stage entertainment provided programs at Great Lakes, Fort Sheridan, Rockford, 
Peoria, Rantoul, Urbana and Chicago, an average of ten thousand (10,000) men 
being entertained each week in this way. A committee on dramatics provided 
free theatrical performances for men in uniform every Sunday afternoon in 
Chicago for about a year, the best performances in the city being donated to the 
committee for this purpose and were enjoyed by an average of 1,500 men 
weekly. This committee also furnished entertainers for Sunday evenings at the 
Khaki and Blue Club. With the moral, and some small financial support of 
the Board, the Ravinia Club was established at Ravinia Park and about 1,000 
soldiers and sailors were entertained each Saturday and Sunday of the ten 
weeks' season there in the summer of 1918. A Committee on Protective Work 
for Girls began its work on April 15th, 1918, maintaining a Protective Bureau, 
with a supervisor and two assistants who worked all week, and twenty paid 
workers who worked Saturdays and Sundays. 

Similar activities were conducted by local committees in Belleville, Cham- 
paign, Urbana, Peoria, Rantoul, Rock Island, Rockford, Waukegan, Lake Foresf 
and Highland Park. In other suburban communities there were special hospi- 
tality or recreation committees, responsible to the Board and financed in whole 
or in part by it. 

Scope of the Work Performed 

The scope of the service of the Board is indicated in the reports of attendance 
of men in uniform at the various clubhouses and entertainments. In November, 

1917, the total attendance at these various enterprises was 22,950. In August, 

1918, the total attendance for the month was 207,824. For the month of January, 

1919, the total attendance was 279,784. 

The name. War Recreation Board, was changed last summer to War Camp 
Community Service, in compliance with a request of the War and Navy Depart- 
ments Commissions on Training Camp Activities, thus establishing a uniform 
name for this work throughout the country. 

Acting under the name War Recreation Board of Illinois, the Board con- 
ducted a campaign throughout the state in February, 1918, with the approval and 
assistance of the State Council of Defense. From this campaign a total of 
$537,398.42 was received. Of this amount $241,138.13 has been used locally. 
Considerable appropriations were made for work of a similar character at 
Rockford (Camp Grant), at Peoria, Champaign, Urbana, Rock Island, Moline 
and Belleville, Illinois, and to the national office to provide for work of the 
same character among Illinois troops camps in other states. 

The Board also co-operated in the United War Work campaign in Novem- 
ber, 1918. the national War Camp Community Service being one of the seven 
organizations participating in that effort. Some part of the National War Camp 
Community Service fund will be used in Chicago and vicinity to complete the 
service already begun in behalf of enlisted men, assuring men already in service 
and men returning from service a cordial welcome and wholesome entertain- 
ment in this community. 

In order to promote the work intensively, it was decided, beginning Novem- 
ber 1st, 1918, to confine activities to Cook and Lake counties. Besides the 
direct service to men in uniform, there was also carried on work among 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 261 

girls under the head of the Girls' Patriotic Service League. This department 
was taken over October 15th from the Woman's Committee of the State 
Council of X)efense. 

War Camp Community Service will carry on its work all during the 
demobilization period, and will do everything possible to aid the returning men 
to get back into normal life as quickly as possible. It is identified with the 
Advisory Committee of the Bureau for Returning Soldiers and Sailors of the 
United States Employment Service. It is also represented on the Executive 
Committee of the Patriotic Community Council and on the official Citizens' 
Welcome Home Committee. 

War Camp Community Service also now promotes community singing ; 
maintains an Entertainment Bureau which furnishes high class talent for occa- 
sions at Fort Sheridan, Great Lakes, Marine Hospital and other places, the 
attendance many weeks running as high as 10,000, and through its committee 
members in North Shore towns it caters to the personal needs of patients at the 
Army and Navy hospitals. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Frank D. Loomis, Secretary. 



APPENDIX XXX 

WAR BUSINESS COMMITTEE 

February 15, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The war, even before the United States entered it, naturally increased manu- 
facturing along the lines of munitions of war of all descriptions. When the 
United States came in, the government let contracts for large amounts of 
munitions and ordnance, most of which contracts fell to eastern manufacturers. 
This was not at all due to any inability or inefficiency on the part of manufac- 
turers in other parts of the country, but was chiefly due to the fact that the 
time allowed between the advertisement for estimates and the time when such 
estimates had to be in the hands of government officials was too short for 
manufacturers any great distance from Washington. The State of IlHnois had 
a large number of manufacturing plants fully equipped for this work, and many 
other plants which, with slight changes, would have been available. Inability to 
secure materials to carry on their own regular work was closing down many 
of them. 

In March, 1918. you authorized the appointment of a Committee on War 
Business to undertalce the task of securing war orders for the manufacturers in 
Illinois and the middle west generally, and the following were named : 

Samuel M. Hastings, President of the Illinois Manufacturers' Asso- 
ciation, Chairman. 

John W. O'Leary, former President of the Chicago Association of 
Commerce, Vice-Chairman. 

R. B. Beach, Business Manager of the Chicago Association of Com- 
merce, Vice-Chairman. 

John M. Glenn, Secretary of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, 
Secretary. 

Through the efforts of this committee, and the State Council of Defense 
of Illinois, the time between the advertising for and the opening of bids was 
extended from seven to twelve days, which enabled manufacturers in the middle 
west to compete with the eastern manufacturers. This Committee then outlined 
the work before it as follows : 

To bring to the attention of the responsible heads of the several 
departments, divisions and bureaus of the Government charged with 
the purchase and production of supplies for the military forces of 
the United States the advantage of placing a much larger share of 
war business in the middle west — this in the interest of maximum and 
timely production, maintenance of normal transportation conditions and 
the economic welfare of the country. 

To maintain and make advantageous use of the fullest possible infor- 
mation as to what the requirements of the Government were, how war 
business in each department was being placed, the facilities of the 
various industries of the middle west to meet these requirements, and 
how manufacturers in this district might proceed most effectively to 
share in fullest measure in production of the Government's urgent war 
requirements. 

To bring about the establishment by the Government of headquar- 
ters in Chicago representing all departments which had the placing of 
war orders, so as to facilitate the placing of as large an amount of war 
business in the middle west as would best serve the Government's war 
program. 

262 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 263 

Tangible Results Secured 

The Committee proceeded to collect information as to the capacity, equip- 
ment, etc., of the manufacturing plants in Illinois, and also to ascertain what 
type of munitions and ordnance the government was demanding, and to place 
before the various departments of the government the ability of manufacturers 
in this part of the country to supply a great deal of such demand. 

The War Industries Board at Washington requested Mr. Lucius Teter, 
President of the Chicago Association of Commerce, to call a meeting for the 
purpose of organizing the state to get information with reference to manu- 
facturing plants similar to that which this Committee of the Council was col- 
lecting. This meeting was held at the Congress Hotel on June 18, 1918, and 
this Committee of the Council attended to offer cooperation wherever possible; 

The actual results in the form of concrete war orders following the agita- 
tion and propaganda carried on by the War Business Committee, became con- 
spicuous in the period of July 1, 1918, to November 11, 1919, when the armistice 
was signed. 

During that period business handled through the War Industries Bureau of 
the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, which cooperated with the War Busi- 
ness Committee, amounted to $110,000,000. In addition, orders amounting to 
more than $400,000,000 were placed in this district as a result of the agitation 
carried on for more business in Illinois. 

The activities of the committee since the signing of the armistice have 
been largely devoted to obtaining methods of settling with the war contractors' 
that would speedily release the large amount of money involved. 

The decision of the comptroller of the treasury holding that no disburse- 
ments could be made on procurement orders or informal contracts tied up 
about $600,000,000 in the Chicago district for manufacturers working on govern- 
ment contracts. 

It has been necessary to have Congress enact a law validating these con- 
tracts and this law will relieve the situation considerably. 

The War Business Committee has practically closed its work and it feels 
that the State Council of Defense in undertaking the work of propaganda for 
Illinois industries did a valuable and efficient piece of work. 

Respectfully submitted, 

S. M. Hastings, Chairman. 



APPENDIX XXXI 

COMMITTEE ON SANITATION, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 

January 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The Committee on Sanitation, Medicine and Public Health, Dr. Frank Bill- 
ings, Chairman, effected medical organization of the State by appointing a com- 
mittee drawn from the local medical profession in each county throughout the 
State. Matters of local medical importance rested in the jurisdiction of these 
committees which served also as cooperating bodies in carrying out the pur- 
poses of the Council. 

A Cooperating Committee on the Tuberculosis War Problem of the State 
Council of Defense of the State of Illinois, with Dr. George T. Palmer as 
Chairman, was appointed to assume charge of the tuberculosis work. Certain 
cooperative committees were designated to assume jurisdiction over special 
interests. Among these was a Dental Committee under the chairmanship Oi* 
Dr. Frederick B. Moorehead ; also a Committee on Social Hygiene under the 
chairmanship of Dr. B. C. Corbus. 

In August, 1917, Dr. Billings was made head of the Red Cross Mission to 
Russia and granted leave of absence by the Council. He appointed an advisory 
committee to which might be referred all matters pertaining to public healtl? 
during his absence, this committee consisting of Dr. E. J. Doering, Dr. Arthui* 
R. Reynolds and Dr. Arthur R. Elliott, Chairman. The activities of this com- 
mittee have been largely advisory, consisting chiefly in facilitating the carrying 
out in this State of the recommendations of the Council of National Defense, 
affecting Sanitation, Medicine and Public Health. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Arthur R. Elliott, Chairman. 

Dental Advisory Committee 

January 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The members of the Committee on Dentistry are: 

Frederick B. Moorehead, Chairman 
Thos. L. Gilmer John P. Buckley 

Donald M. Gallic J. F. F. Waltz 

Arthur D. Black E. F. Hazell 

The work of this Committee has been directed toward : 

1st, the enrollment of practicing dentists in the Dental Officers' 
Reserve Corps ; 

2nd, the organization and maintenance of courses of instruction 
in military dentistry and oral surgery; 

3rd, the use of dental infirmaries for the correction of dental 
defects in recruits and also those included in the draft. 

The Committee cooperated with the officers of the Illinois State DentaP 
Society in a detailed program which had for its object the enrollment of prac- 
ticing dentists in the Dental Officers' Reserve Corps. Illinois has as large a 
number per capita of dentists holding commissions as any other state in the 
union. 

Courses of instruction designed to prepare the civilian dentist for military 
dentistry and oral surgery were conducted in the different dental colleges and 
were enthusiastically patronized. 

264 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 265 

The University of Illinois College of Dentistry, Northwestern University 
Dental School and Chicago College of Dental Surgery placed the use of their 
infirmaries with all the equipment at the disposal of the Committee for the 
correction of dental defects in the mouths of recruits and those in the draft. 

While we are not in a position to give any actual figures, it may be stated 
that a very splendid contribution to the well-being of the enlisted men of the 
State was made in this particular type of service. 

Respectfuly submitted, 

F. B. MooREHEAD, Chairman. 

Advisory Committee on Social Hygiene 

January 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The activities, completed or being carried on when the armistice was signed, 
by the Red League, which has served as an Advisory Committee on Social 
Hygiene under the Council's Committee on Sanitation, Medicine and Public 
Health, were as follows : 

Survey of venereal disease clinics made by Dr. Mary C. Lincoln, 
exhibit of sex hygiene and venereal disease prepared and installed 
at following places : 

Duration 

Y. M. C. A. Camp, Fort Sheridan 30 days 

Y. M. C. A. Tent, Highwood 10 days 

Grant Park Naval Station- 10 days 

Instruction Building, Great Lakes, without attendant part time 110 days 

Camp Paul Jones, Great Lakes 7 days 

Detention Camp, Great Lakes 7 days 

Y. M. C. A. Building, Great Lakes Ill days 

Municipal Pier 97 days 

Fort Sheridan, 2nd Officers' Camp 10 days 

Camp Perry, Great Lakes 14 days 

Comfort Station, City Hall 212 days 

Camp Grant, Rockford, 111 (2 exhibits) 236 days 

Camp Grant, Rockford, 111. (2 additional exhibits) 193 days 

Total ^ 1047 days 

Stereomotorgraph with four sets of slides on exhibition in the Y. M. 
C. A. camps, Camp Grant, Rockford, for 5 months. 

37,000 painphlets distributed to soldiers and sailors ; 3,500 pamphlets 
distributed at Fort Sheridan, 2nd Officers' Training Camp. 23,000 
pamplilets sent to Rockford for distribution. 25,000 persons viewed the 
exhibits ; 4,000 persons interviewed personally by attendants. 

Five illustrated lectures given ; average attendance, 200. 

13,000 circular letters mailed 1st class to citizens of Chicago; 5,500 
containing pamphlets; 11,500 pamphlets mailed 2nd class to citizens of 
Chicago. 

Modern venereal disease dispensary established. 

Sixteen prominent specialists offered their services either for the 
purpose of giving lectures or of giving treatment whenever needed. 
The activities of the Red League in operation at the time of the armistice: 

Four exhibits in operation at Camp Grant, Rockford ; one at comfort 
station, City Hall ; other exhibits at Municipal Pier, White City Amuse- 
ment Park, Riverview Amusement Park, Training Camp for Students at 
Fort Sheridan. 

Series of lectures to the student soldiers at Fort Sheridan. 

The League has been actively engaged in obtaining one or more competent 
lecturers on venereal disease in each county of Illinois. The names of these 
lecturers, as fast as obtained, were turned over to the County Chairman of the 
State Council of Defense, who made preliminary arrangements for lectures to 
be given to the drafted men. To supplement the work, the League supplied 
literature to these lecturers for distribution among newly drafted men. In 



266 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

addition, a list of all the Examining Boards in the State was being compiled 
and literature sent to the Examining Physicians for distribution to the men 
being examined. 

The Red League is cooperating with the U. S. Examining Boards and 
British Recruiting Mission by giving treatment for drafted men who are found 
to be infected with a venereal disease. 

The League operated and expanded the work of a Genito-Urinary Dis- 
pensary. All cases other than venereal cases were sent to approved physicians 
or other dispensaries for treatment. 

The general aim of the Medical Department of the Red League has been as 
follows : 

To increase and to make more efficient the diagnosis, prophylaxis 
and treatment facilities for venereal disease in the City of Chicago. 

To maintain free day clinics for men and women, and evening pay 
clinic for men, daily except Sunday at the Red League Dispensary. 

To cooperate with other dispensaries and hospitals in securing greater 
degree of efficiency in all clinics. 

To aid in the establishment of additional dispensaries and secure 
cooperation of the medical profession in combating these diseases. 

Organize a competent system of follow-up work. 

Educational Department 

The general aim of the Educational Department of the Red League has 
been to educate public opinion as follows : 

With printed matter: (a) Design and print cards, pasters, placards 
and series of mimeographed bulletins for patients; (b) arrange for the 
distribution of printed matter through employers, physicians, druggists, 
patients and others. 

With exhibits : Circulate complete exhibits or single posters in com- 
fort stations, stores, park field houses, etc. 

With lectures : Arrange lectures in connection with exhibits. 

Through the press : Secure publicity and space for educational 
articles in newspapers, magazines, trade journals, etc. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Lenard Mulder, Executive Secretary. 

Advisory Committee on Mental Hygiene 

January 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

The work of the Illinois Society for Mental Hygiene, which is doing its 
work as Sub-Committees of the Committee on Sanitation, Medicine and Public 
Health and the Courses of Instruction Committee of the Woman's Committee 
of the State Council of Defense, is divided into two departments. Under the 
Social Service and Field work patients were referred to us which were definitely 
war cases, some sent from the Red Cross, some from exemption boards and 
some directly from the State Council. Some of these were women whose 
sons or husbands had enlisted or been drafted. In some instances these only 
needed early treatment and friendly visits to recover entirely. However, it 
was necessary to have a few of these patients committed to state hospitals. 

The great demand for public health nurses made it necessary to give special 
courses and our Director of Social Service and Field Work gave half time 
for four months to directing a course in public health nursing at the Chicago 
School of Civics and Philanthropy. There were sixteen nurses in this group 
of students and by September 1st each one was placed in a smaller city or 
rural community to do special or general public health work. 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 267 

In our Occupational Department, now known as the Henry B. Favill School 
of Occupations, we graduated many classes in occupational therapy, sent to us 
by the School of Civics and Philanthropy and from the Red Cross Teaching 
Center. They were women who had volunteered for service with the Red 
Cross and were chosen by the Teaching Center as being especially equipped and 
adapted for this special work. They were chosen with great care and insight. 
When their practice work is completed, these graduates go back again under 
the Red Cross and their service to the Government is dependent upon arrange- 
ments made by the Red Cross for them. 

There is an increasing demand for this training. We have had a number 
of applications from women in various states besides Illinois — Missouri, Colo- 
rado, New York, Michigan, Montana, California, etc. 

The occupational work of Cook County Hospital has been in charge of one 
of the members of the staff of the Favill School and it has been possible to 
keep this hospital and also the Presbyterian Hospital supplied with volunteer 
workers from the pupils who have taken the training and who are pledged to 
give three months' volunteer work in civil or state hospitals as part of their 
training. At the Michael Reese Hospital the last superintendent of occupa- 
tional work was a short term pupil of the Favill School. The work of the 
Jewish Charities at 1800 Selden street, where the occupational work has been 
established, has always been sustained by advice from the Favill School. 

Various groups of people interested in what we are doing have visited 
the school, notably about one hundred physicians from the Medico-Neurological 
Convention, Captain Sand of the Belgian Mission, the Surgeon General of the 
French Army, and a group of men from the Surgeon General's office. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Anna Hamill Monroe, Chairman. 



APPENDIX XXXII 

WAR AID AND WAR CHARITIES LICENSE BUREAU OF THE STATE 
COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

July 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

On July 1, 1917, an Act of the Illinois General Assembly regulating the 
solicitation of funds for war aid and war relief and placing the control of 
such solicitation in the hands of the State Council of Defense, became operative. 
This Act provided that, with certain exceptions hereinafter stated, no solicita- 
tion of funds or other property for war aid and war relief or charity should 
be carried on in Illinois without authorization from the State Council of 
Defense. 

Personnel of License Committees 

A License Committee, consisting of E. J. E. Ward, Chairman ; William A. 
Fox, Vice-Chairman, and John H. Gulick, Secretary, with Richard Mueller as 
Assistant Secretary and John E. Wing as Counsel, began acting in this matter 
on July 1, 1917, in an advisory capacity for the State Council of Defense. The 
work immediately assumed considerable proportions, and the work of the Com- 
mittee has been continuous and increasing in volume from that day to the 
present time. 

On March 14, 1918, because of the many coordinating features arising in 
connection with solicitation in Cook county, an additional license committee, 
known as the Cook County License Committee, was appointed, consisting of 
E. J. E. Ward, Chairman, William A. Fox, Vice-Chairman, Mrs. George R. 
Dean, William J. Legner, L. E. Myers, John T. Stockton, John H. Gulick, Sec- 
retary, and Richard Mueller Assistant Secretary. This latter committee took* 
charge of all solicitation in Cook county and the original committee, consisting 
of Messrs. Ward, Fox and Gulick, thereafter known as the State License Com- 
mittee, retained charge of all solicitation outside of Cook county. Mr. Wing 
acted as counsel for both committees and, after the armistice, was acting secre- 
tary of the License Bureau. 

How the License Bureau Worked 

From July 1, 1917, to March 14, 1918, the date of the organization of the 
Cook County License Committee, meetings of the Committee were held almost 
daily for the consideration of license questions. After that, the committees met 
regularly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week and at such other 
times as special meetings were necessary. 

Organizations wishing to apply for authority to solicit funds for war aid or 
war relief procured from the License Bureau a form of application specially 
prepared for the purpose. All applications were made upon this form and 
filed with the bureau. Each application so filed was fully considered. If the 
application was approved, a formal license executed by the Secretary of the 
State Council of Defense was issued to the applicant. 

Each applicant was required to set out specifically in the application, in 
addition to other matters, the objects, purposes and uses for which the funds 
were to be solicited, and the means by which the funds were to be distributed, 
including a specific designation of the beneficiary or beneficiaries. The com- 
mittees believed that, in order to make their work effective, they should regu- 
late the methods used in solicitation. They found it necessary, therefore, to 
require that all applications set out in detail the methods by which solicitation 
was to be made, and no solicitation by methods other than those clearly stated 

268 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 



269 



in the application were permitted. It was to the interest of each applicant, 
therefore, in applying for a license, to see that the application stated clearly 
and fully the methods which the applicant desired to use in carrying on solici- 
tation. 

Bad Practices Found and Stopped 

The committees also found that, as a general rule where money was to be 
raised by the sale of tickets for entertainments, dances, card parties, lectures 
and other "benefits" of this nature, the expenses of such enterprises were dis- 
proportionately high, and that the net returns for war aid and war relief were 
likely to be small as compared with the total amounts collected and the energy 
expended. In fact, in some such instances which came to the attention of the 
committees, little or nothing was left for war relief after paying expenses. The 
committees also became convinced that solicitation of funds by repeated small 
afifairs of this nature resulted in unnecessary annoyance to the public and tended 
to discourage generous public response to worthy and important appeals. The 
committees, therefore, sought to discourage activities of this kind and adopted 
regulations providing that a general license would not be granted authorizing 
the raising of funds by means of the sale of tickets for entertainments or similar 
"benefits" ; that whenever an applicant desired to carry on activities of this 
nature, a separate application should be made for each entertainment or other 
benefit, and that such application must be accompanied with detailed informa- 
tion as to the expenses to be incurred. If, in connection with any entertam- 
ment or other "benefit" any program was to be used for which advertising space 
was to be sold, the committees required information before the issuance of the 
license as to who would conduct the sale of the advertising space and what 
commissions or other remuneration would be paid to the persons selling such 
advertising space. 

Some Purposes of Licensing 

It was the object of the State Council of Defense in issuing licenses to 
provide among other things that war funds should be collected economically, 
avoiding expensive forms of solicitation ; that there should be no element of 
commercialism in the solicitation ; that as nearly as possible 100 per cent of the 
gross amounts collected should actually be used for war relief ; and that there 
should be no exploitation for private interests. Applications 'for authority to 
carry on solicitation running contrary to these principles, when detected, were not 
approved. 

It was also the object of the State Council of Defense to provide that as 
far as possible there should be no overlapping or duplication of effort. A license 
therefore was not granted for conducting a solicitation campaign which another 
organization was already carrying on in the same field. Whenever it appeared 
that an applicant wished to carry on work that was similar to or conilicted 
with the work of the American Red Cross, a license was granted only upon 
approval of the application by the American Red Cross. The State Council of 
Defense had a number of Committees of its own which had charge of specific 
war activities such as the War Recreation Board, the Military Affairs Commit- 
tee, the Cook County Coordinating Committee, and the Counties Auxiliary. 
Applications which involved matters coming under the jurisdiction of any of 
these Committees were ordinarily referred for advice to the Committee having 
the matter in charge. 

Licenses authorizing the solicitation of funds for war relief generally upon 
the principle of what is commonly known as a "war chest" were not granted 
save in exceptional cases. "Tag days" were discouraged. A license to a 
single individual was rarely granted. 

Exemptions Under the License Law 

The exceptions referred to hereinbefore as not requiring licenses were as 
follows: The family or friends of any soldier or sailor could supply such 
soldier or sailor, or the family and dependents of such soldier or sailor, with aid 
at any time without a license. No license was required for solicitation among 



270 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

its own members by any society, club, association, corporation, congregation or re- 
ligious association or corporation, or for solicitation for any war aid or relief auth- 
orized by any law or resolution of the Congress of the United States, or by any act 
or proclamation of the President of the United States. However, unless the person 
or association carrying on such solicitation was actually authorized by the organ- 
ization for which the solicitation purported to be made, so that the solicitation' 
might be regarded as being actually carried on by the exempted organization, a 
license had to be procured. With respect to solicitation exclusively among mem- 
bers of an organization, some instances arose in which organizations, formed 
for the sole purpose of raising funds for war relief, solicited subscriptions upon 
the representation that the subscription itself would make the subscriber a 
member of the organization. A license had to be procured for solicitation of 
this nature. 

Provisions to Protect the Public 

All licensees were required to place upon all printed matter issued by them 
and intended for circulation or use in Illinois in connection with solicitation, a 
statement informing the public that the solicitation had been authorized. The 
statement was in the following form : 

"A license authorizing this solicitation has been issued by the State 

Council of Defense of Illinois. License No " 

It is believed that this statement, so used, in addition to being of great 
advantage to the licensee, served as a protection and convenience to the public. 
If a form of statement shorter than the form given above was more practicable 
for use in some instances, as, for example, upon tickets of admission, the fol- 
lowing could be used : 

"Licensed by State Council of Defense of Illinois. License 

No " 

Reports of receipts and disbursements were required of all licensees and 
all accounts had to be audited by some public accountant. Where licenses 
were for a considerable period of time, reports were required quarterly. Other- 
wise reports had to be filed as soon as practicable after the solicitation was 
completed. 

All licenses were subject to revocation at any time in the discretion of tlie 
State Council of Defense, whenever, in its opinion, the soliciation was no 
longer useful or necessary. 

Figures Prove Importance of Licensing 

During the twelve months period ending June 30, 1918, in connection with 
activities carried on for war relief under licenses granted by the State Council 
of Defense, an aggregate of $3,425,662.01 was collected and the aggregate 
expenses in connection with solicitation and administration, including the 
expenses of entertainments and other benefits where funds were raised by such 
means, was $334,463.65 or a percentage of approximately 9.46. Out of the 
$3,425,662.01 collected, the sum of $3,091,198.36 was used or was available for 
war relief purposes. These figures would have been increased somewhat by a 
few delinquent reports and did not include the amounts collected in Illinois 
by a number of organizations with headquarters in New York City whiclt 
carried on solicitation throughout the United States and did not keep their 
receipts from Illinois distinct from their other receipts. The total amount, 
therefore, collected under the regulations of the State Council of Defense 
during the first year this bureau was in existence, including the period of its 
organization, was actually considerably in excess of the figures given. 

From July 1, 1918, to November 11, 1918, the date of the armistice, the work 
of the License Bureau continued in full swing and with little or no change in 
character. After the signing of the armistice, the volume of solicitation began 
to decrease and the character of the solicitation changed from solicitation for 
war relief generally to the solicitation of funds by auxiliary committees of 
different units of the United States Army, for the purpose of giving the men 
a welcome home, to provide funds for their relief, and to assist them in becom- 
ing readjusted to civilian life. About May 1, 1919, applications for licenses 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 271 

began to show a decided decrease and from that date to July 1, only forty-two 
licenses were granted. At the date of this report very few applications are 
being received. 

Second Year's Work Shows Big Increase 

From reports of receipts and disbursements filed with us by our licensees since 
June 30, 1918, (leaving entirely out of consideration organizations with their head- 
quarters in New York City, which carry on silicitation throughout the United 
States and have not reported to us separately the amounts collected in Illinois) 
it appears that a total of $5,415,903.78 has been collected by our licensees during 
the period from July 1, 1918, to July 1, 1919. The reports show that the aggre- 
gate expense in connection with such solicitation and the administration of 
relief was $612,302.61 or a percentage of approximately 11.3. Out of the 
$5,415,903.78 collected, the sum of $4,803,601.17 was used or was available for 
use for war relief purposes. Our reports show that our licensees had on hand 
at the time of making their last reports a balance of $1,269,590.87 undistributed. 

Collections of More Than $10,000,000 Supervised 

Combining these figures with the figures for the bureau's first year, July 1, 
1917, to June 30, 1918, as previously given, our records show the collection 
of $8,841,565.79 by our licensees, at an expense of collection and administration 
amounting to $946,766.25, or a percentage of a little less than 11 per cent. Many 
of our licensees have not 5'et filed complete reports. Including these and also 
including the New York organizations licensed by us, which have not 
reported their collections in Illinois separately from their collections throughout 
the country, it is safe to say that an amount considerably in excess of $10,000,000 
has been collected by our licensees at an average expense of collection and admin- 
istration of approximately 10>2 per cent of the amount collected. 

The following table shows the number of applications filed and the number 
of licenses issued during the full period from July 1, 1917, to July 1, 1919, 
together with other information of similar character. 

Applications Filed 1499 

Applications Approved and Licensed 1045 

Applications Tabled and Action Withheld 146 

Applications Withdrawn 90 

Applications Rejected 101 

Applications Referred to Red Cross 104 

Applications Referred to Coordinating Committee of Cook County 
Auxiliary 31 

Many Funds Not Yet Distributed 

The License Committee will go out of existence upon the proclamation of 
peace by the President of the United States. That will terminate the License 
Bureau's authority (and' all authority) to require an accounting of administra- 
tion and distribution of war aid and relief funds. 

Respectfully submitted, 

John E. Wing, Acting Secretary. 



APPENDIX XXXIII 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WAR HISTORY 

March 1, 1919. 
To the State Council of Defense: 

To supervise the collection and preservation of war records and war history 
material pertaining to Illinois and to participation in war work of any kind by its 
citizens, a standing committee of the State Council of Defense was created, to be 
known as the War History Committee, with the following members : 

Samuel Insull, Chairman ; Charles H. Wacker, John H. Walker, 
Roger C. Sullivan. 

At one of the weekly meetings of the Council's departmental executives, 
which were regularly conducted by the chairman of the Council, investigation 
of this subject was delegated to Bernard J. Mullaney, Walter S. Brewster, L. E. 
Myers and P. E. Fleming. This committee, with the help of professional library 
and historical research men, developed a definite plan of procedure. Under this 
plan the War History Committee, with the authority of the Council, appointed an 
Advisory Committee on War History, with the view to co-ordinating interest and 
experience in historical work with the Council's machinery for getting things done. 
The members of this committee were : 

Bernard J. Mullaney, Director of Council Publicity, Chairman. 
Walter S. Brewster, Chairman of the Council Counties Auxiliary and 
Neighborhood Committee. 

L. E. Myers, Chairman of the Council's Cook County Auxiliary. 
Peter E. Fleming, Secretary of the Council's Food Production and 
Conservation Committee. 

William H. Culver, Associate Director of Council Publicity. 
W. N. C. Carlton, Librarian of the Newberry Library, Chicago. 
Professor C. W. Alvord, Editor-in-Chief of the Illinois Centennial 
History, Urbana. 

Professor Marcus W. Jernegan, Department of History, University 
of Chicago. 

Clarence A. Burley, President of the Chicago Historical Society. 
Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, Secretary of the Illinois State Historical 
Library. 

Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber, Librarian, Illinois State Historical 



Library. 



Collection of Material Begun 



Messrs. Carlton, Alvord and Jernegan prepared an official circular setting 
forth the necessity and importance of safeguarding the records of all ofificial, 
semi-official and volunteer war organizations of the State, and requesting all such 
organizations to take suitable measures for preservation of their records, and 
also copies of all forms, blanks and other printed matter issued by them. The 
Illinois State Historical Library, by its officers, co-operated and consented to be 
the central depository of war records and other historical material not having any 
specified or safe place of preservation. Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber secured the co- 
operation of the Adjutant General's office and of other departments of the State 
government to insure preservation of the draft board records of the State. 

On the Advisory Committee's recommendation, an official Council bulletin 
(Bulletin No. 34) went to all county organizations explaining the purposes in 
view, and calling upon them to help carry out the program by forming county war 
history committees. The County Executive Committees were requested to nom- 
inate one or more of their own members, or other suitable persons, to serve on 

272 



STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 273 

county historical committees. Each County Executive Committee was further 
requested to make a report briefly reviewing all the activities and accomplishments 
of itself and its subsidiary committees from the time of their appointment, to- 
gether with lists of those persons who actively and faithfully carried on the work 
of the State Council of Defense in their respective counties. The plan explained 
in Bulletin No. 34 contemplated that local committees should enlist the aid of 
local libraries and all local historical and patriotic organizations in stimulating in- 
terest in the movement, and in the collection of material. To safeguard the ma- 
terial so collected, it was recommended that the best obtainable local depositary, 
fireproof if possible, should be secured in each community, whether it were the 
local library, historical society rooms, high school, city hall, court house or bank 
vault. 

Kinds of Material Desired 

As a guide to local committees and the public, a schedule of the historical 
material desired to be collected was incorporated in Bulletin No. 34, as follows : 

Local Newspapers — All newspapers are requested to send issues from 
August 1, 1914, to the present, to the Illinois State Historical Library and 
to the library of the University of Illinois, and, so far as possible, to the 
Chicago Historical Society. Complete files of local newspapers should 
also be preserved in the local library. 

Letters and Diaries — Besides the above classified materials there is 
much miscellaneous matter, such as letters and diaries of soldiers and 
sailors, of local men and women in other war service, and souvenirs col- 
lected by them ; also typewritten copies of records, lists, and other papers 
not otherwise available. Arrangements can be made whereby letters and 
diaries will be copied and originals returned, without expense, to the 
owners. 

Official Documents — These include the draft board records, corre- 
respondence and card records, blanks, questionnaires, instructions, or- 
ders, laws, and proclamations issued by Federal, State or local authorities, 
treating such subjects as the draft, liberty loans, food and fuel conserva- 
tion, and postal regulations. 

Data on Semi-Official Organisation — In this group are the reports, 
records and correspondence of organizations such as the Red Cross, the 
Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's Christian Associa- 
tion, Knights of Columbus. Jewish Welfare Board, Salvation Army and 
all bodies having to do with war relief, either domestic or foreign. The 
information on local organizations will be of special interest. 

Other Organisations — Data on anti-war and pacific movements and 
organizations, anti-registration demonstrations, etc., including printed 
matter. 

Information Material — This includes books, maps, and pamphlets 
giving information on the war — both for and against — distributed by the 
government or by the efforts of individuals and organizations — and 
speeches and sermons delivered in the community concerning war prob- 
lems. The latter may sometimes be secured in manuscript form. 

Posters — For the liberty loans, war savings certificates, the Red 
Cross, food and fuel conservation, enlistments in the army and navy, 
war relief and welfare organizations, war-gardens, books for camp libra- 
ries and all other war activities. In adidtion, there are others which take 
the form of "stickers," placards in street cars, and hand bills. Service 
flags should be obtained and can be easily kept with the collection of 
posters. 

Photographic Material — In this class belong individual and group 
pictures of soldiers and sailors from the county and community; pic- 
tures of war committees, parades, and scenes of community interest. 
War pictures collected by individuals in service may be preserved. Mov- 
ing picture films showing scenes in which men from the county partici- 
pate should be included wherever possible. Photographs of war industry 
plants and products are also desirable. 



274 STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

MUiiary Statistics — Here belong lists of local men in the army and 
na\y. and the company, regiment, and rank of each; lists of registered 
men in the count>-; members of officers' training camps from the count}- 
and community" ; lists of men who have entered the war service of other 
countries, whether as soldiers, ambulance men or otherwise ; lists of Red 
Cross nurses : muster rolls of Reserve Militia and Volunteer Training 
Corps by companies ; lists of volunteers for overseas ser\-ice of the various 
war relief organizations ; the names of the men sent from the count}- at 
each call under the draft; and the honor rolls of men in service kept by 
organizations such as churches, schools, and societies. 

Ecotwniic and Industrial Material — Under this head come price lists, 
advertisements, data concerning war-gardens, the work of labor organ- 
izations especially and their part in war activities, the work of railroads 
and other corporations in war service, and any other information dealing 
with the economic and industrial situation in the communit}- during war 
times. 

Jl'ar Museions — Organization of local war museums to collect and 
preserve samples of uniforms, equipment and war material would be of 
assistance in stimulating collection of historical material and would serve 
as a permanent stimulus to patriotism. 

State Historical Libr.\ry ix Charge 

The subject-matter contained in Bulletin No. 34 was also put into a circular 
which, by order of the Advisorj- Committee, was sent to all educational institutions 
and libraries in the State, local historical societies, local newspapers, women's 
clubs, patriotic organizations, and all known organized war activities. 

About 30 counties acted upon these instructions. This does not mean that 
no steps were taken elsewhere for the preservation of war records and historical 
material. The circular supplementing Bulletin No. 34, referred to above, went to 
a selected list, furnished by the State Historical Librar\-, of persons known to be 
interested in historical work and kindred subjects; hence in almost everj- com- 
munit}- in the State some one was inspired to undertake the preservation of war 
histor}- material. Your committee understands that a considerable quantity of such 
material has already been deposited in the State Historical Librarj- at Springfield. 

When the members of the county and otlier subsidiary- organizations of the 
State Council of Defense were released by the Council's official bulletin issued on 
December 2. 1918. the Advisor}- Committee on War Histor}- was, of course, left 
without facilities for continuing this work. It, therefore, recommended that con- 
tinuance of the work be made a function of the Illinois State Historical Libran,-, 
and that the General Assembly be asked to appropriate the funds necessar}' for 
carr}-ing it on. Your committee understands that the General Assembly has made 
such appropriation, and that the collection and preservation of war records and 
war histor}- material is satisfactorily going forward. 

Respectfully submitted. 

Bernard J. Mull.\xev, Chairman. 



INDEX 

Page Xo. 

Agricultural War Board for Illinois 201, 202 

Aid to State Council by State Departments 13 

Aid to State Council by Other Institutions 13 

Aiding Illinois Business 65, 262 

Alsace-Lorraine, Mass Meeting 32 

Allied Relief 159 

Allied Relief (Women) 154 

Alpine Chasseurs 98 

Americanization (Women) 154 

Americanization, Resolutions by Council to General Assembly 75, 154 

American Protective League 61 

American Red Cross, Co-Operation with 94, 99, 101 

American Red Cross, Aid by Auxiliaries 94 

Appropriation for Support of State Council by State of Illinois 5, 11 

Army Deserters, Apprehension of Through County Auxiliary 95 

Army and Navy, Working for: 

Great Lakes Xaval Training Station, increasing capacity (il 

Fort Sheridan, Officers' Training Camps, perfecting accommodations-62, 63 

Legal Aid to Men in Service 63. 258 

Recreation for Men in Service (War Recreation Board) „ 

„ 63, 64. 259, 260, 261 

Arras, Bishop of 101 

Assistance to Council 80 

Auxiliary Committees of Council, Classification, etc 10, 11, 12 

Belgian Soldiers, Visit of 98 

Bill, Creating Council 7, 11 

Bill, Authorizing Creation of Volunteer Training Corps 222 

Binoculars, for Navy „ 60, 255 

Bishop of Arras, Visit of 101 

Bishop of Northampton, Visit of 101 

"Blue Devils" (Alpine Chasseurs), Visit of 98 

Bulletins ( Cook County) - 101 

Bulletins ( Counties Auxiliary) 83-87 

Centennial Celebration 34, 187, 188 

Child Welfare (Women) „ 138 

Civilian Help Provided „.-57, 246, 247 

Civilian Personal Committee 57, 247, 248 

Classification of Auxiliary Committees 10, 11, 12 

Coal — Committee of Thirteen 13 

Committee of Thirteen — Coal 13 

Commercial Economy Administration (Purposes, Organization, etc.) 

55, 242, 243, 244 

Committees of Counties Auxiliary (Classification of) 10, 11, 12 

Committees of State Council, Standing (Duties, Powers, etc.) 9, 81, 82 

Compensation, to Council Members 8, 77 

275 



276 INDEX 

Page No. 

Conference, Agricultural War Board 201, 202 

Conference, Congressional Representatives 31 

Conference, Illinois Editors 32 

Conference, State Representatives at Washington 7 

Conservation of Money and Materials (Commercial Economy Administra- 
tion, Non-War Construction Bureau) 55, 56, 242, 245 

Consolidation of Neighborhood Committee and Counties Auxiliary 90 

Cook County Activities 98-102 

Cook County Auxiliary Committee (Personnel, Organization, etc.) 17, 96, 97 

Co-Operation — Council's First Purpose 14 

Co-Operation, with Existing Bodies 10 

Co-Operation, with Other Councils 12 

Co-Operation, with Other Organizations 12, 13 

Co-Operation, with Council of National Defense 15 

Co-Ordination of Patriotic Work 14 

Corn Huskers Campaign 196, 197 

Council of National Defense, Creation of 7 

Council of National Defense, Co-Operation with by Council 15 

Counties Auxiliary, Headquarters Established in Each County 95 

Counties Auxiliary (Personnel, Bulletins, etc.) 15, 83-94 

Counties Auxiliary and Neighborhood Committee, Consolidation 15, 27, 90 

County Auxiliaries Eflfected 15, 83 

County Auxiliary, Results Justified Methods 17, 18 

County Executive Committees (Personnel, Duties, etc.) 16, 88 

County Finance Committees (Personnel, Duties, etc.) 16, 89 

County Organization 15, 83 

County Publicity Chairmen 159 

Courses of Instruction (Women) 127 

Creation of Council of National Defense 7 

Creation of State Council of Defense 7, 11 

Crop Program Formulated 39, 193, 194 

Declaration of State of War by Congress 7 

Delinquents, Treatment of by County Organizations 89 

Dental Service 67, 264 

Desertions 101 

Development of Highways for Transportation of Freight 58, 59, 251-253 

Discharge of Council's Organization 75, 76 

Disposition of Council's Activities 75, 76 

Distribution of Labor 10 

Drying Vegetables, etc 204 

Duties of Committees 81, 82 

Duties of Officers of Council 80 

Duties of State Council of Defense 7, 11 

Dunmore, Earl of. Visit of 99 

Earl of Dunmore, Visit of 99 

Electric Railways, Fuel for _ 218 

Electrical Trades, Skilled Labor, Provided to Government 60, 256 

Electricians 60, 256 

Employment (Women) 129 

Engineering and Inventions Committee 60, 254 



INDEX 277 

Page No. 
English Language, Teaching of in Schools — Resolutions to General Assem- 
bly 72,, 74 

Exemption District Plan by Cook County 98 

"Eyes for the Navy" 60, 255 

Farm Labor (Adult Boys' Working Reserve) 38, 39, 195, 205 

Federal Control of Food Question 38 

Finances — 

County Organizations „ 16, 89 

State Council 5, 19, 20, 21, 103 

Woman's Committee 112, 115 

First Meeting of Council 9 

Food 40, 42 

Conservation Bureau and Demonstration Station (Women) 136 

Co-Operation of High Schools 39 

Corn Huskers Campaign 196, 197 

Farm Labor — 

U. S. Boys' Working Reserve 38, 194, 205 

Reserve for Harvesting 195 

Examining Board Established 195 

Federal Commendation 196 

Adult Labor Mobilized 39 

Food Production Conference 32, 193 

Food Campaigns Pushed 36 

Food Shows 2>7, 203 

Kill Smit 200 

Seed Corn 191, 192, 193, 200 

Soft Corn Utilized 41 

Wheat Crops 40, 199, 200 

War Gardens 41, 197, 198, 199 

Food Production (Women) 153 

Food Production and Conservation Committee (History of, Organiza- 
tion, etc.) , 86, 190-204 

Food Production Conference Z2, 193 

Fort Sheridan (Accommodations Completed) 62, 63 

Four Minute Men 30, 164-183 

Activities Aided 167, 169, 170-180 

Ceasing Activities 180 

Co-Operation by State Council 168 

Motion Picture Theatres Aid 166 

Nationalization of Movement 30, 165 

Organization and Origin 30, 164, 165, 168, 172, 179 

Personnel 181 

Recognition by President 171 

Fourth of July Celebration 27, 99 

French Soldiers 32, 98, 176 

Fuel — History of Situaticm, etc 43, 44 

Agreement with Governor by Coal Operators 46 

Appointment of Fuel Director for State by Governor 47, 48 

Appointment of U. S. Fuel Director for State by President 49 

Aid by State Council to Federal Fuel Administration 218, 219 



278 INDEX 

Page No. 

Campaign for Buying and Storing 49 

Campaign for Saving Coal 50, 138 

Coal Operators Meet with Governor 46 

Committee of Thirteen States 47 

Difficulties Encountered 43 

Early Buying Urged 51 

Mine Operators Appealed to 45 

Prices Fixed by President 49 

Public Institutions Aided 50, 216 

Resolutions by Committee of Thirteen 47, 48 

Remedies Proposed 44 

State Control 46 

Fuel Conservation (Women) 138 

Fuel Economies for Electric Railways 218 

Fuel for Use of Public and Quasi-Public Institutions of State 50, 216 

Funerals, Military 100 

Gasoline Regulations 203 

German Language, Legislation Against Use of IZ 

Government Contracts 65, 262 

Great Lakes Naval Training Station (Capacity Increased) 62 

Highways, Use for Transportation of Freight (Highways Transport Com- 
mittee) 58. 59, 251-253 

Highways Transport Committee 58, 59, 251-253 

History of Illinois in War 71, 272 

Historical Committee, Created by Council 71, 272 

Historical Library, State of Illinois (Depositary for War Material). .72, 273, 274 

Homes for Laborers 58, 249, 250 

Hopkins, John P., Memorial Resolutions 8, 79 

Housing Survey 58, 249 

How Council Was Financed _ 19, 20, 103 

Hungarian Patriotic Association, Organization 93 

Illinois Centennial Celebration, Chicago Committee 34, 187. 189 

Illinois Motor Corps (Women) 127 

Illinois Newspaper Editors, Conference of 32 

Illinois Training Farm for Women 131 

Illinois War Workers' Conference 31 

Inventions, Sifting Out (Engineering and Invention Committee) 60, 254 

Kent, Sir Stephenson, Visit of 32 

Labor, Farm. (See Farm Labor.) 

Labor for War Industries, Providing 47, 48, 57, 246, 247 

Lake Front Demonstration (October 21, 1917) 31 

Law and Legislation Committee 63, 258 

Legal Advisory Boards, County 90 

Legal Aid for Soldiers and Sailors 63, 90, 258 

Legislation Suggested by Council to General Assembly- 
English Language for All Elementary Courses in All Schools 12, 

Americanization TZ 

Public Health IZ 

Vocational Training 74 

Licensing Solicitation 74 



INDEX 279 

Page No. 

Legislative Act Creating Council of Defense 7, 11 

Legislative Act Authorizing Voluntary Training Corps 222 

Letter Transmitting Report to Governor 1 

Liberty Choruses 92, 153 

Liberty Loan 156, 167, 175 

Licenses, Committee on for Solicitation of Funds for War Aid and War 

Charities 69, 268, 269, 270 

Loyalty Pledge Cards (Neighborhood Committee) 92 

Mass Meetings and Other Patriotic Gatherings Fostered by Council or 
Auxiliary Committees — 

Alsace-Lorraine 32 

Arras, Bishop of „ 101 

Belgian Soldiers 32 

"Blue Devils" (French Soldiers) 32, 98, 176 

Centennial Celebration, Chicago Committee 34 

Congressional Conference 31 

Dunmore, Earl of 32, 99 

Food Production Conference 32, 193 

Fourth of July Celebrations 27, 99 

French Soldiers 32, 98, 176 

Illinois Newspaper Editors (War Conference) 32 

Illinois War Conference (Patriotic Workers) 31 

Kent, Sir Stephenson 32 

Lake Front Demonstration (Oct. 21, 1917) 31 

Masaryk, Prof. Thos. G 188 

Northampton, Bishop of 101 

Northcliffe, Lord 32 

Roumanian Minister 32 

U. S. Government War Exposition ZZ 

Victory Meetings 101 

Medical Aid (Military, Naval and Civilian) 67, 264 

Medical Profession Organized 67, 264 

Medical Committee (Sanitation, Medicine and Public Health) 67, 264 

Mental Hygiene 68, 266 

Merchant Marine 61, 257 

Mexican Editors, Visit of 101 

Military Affairs (Action by Council to Protect State, Bill Creating Vol- 
unteer Training Corps, Final Report of Committee) 52, 220-241 

Militia, Reserve 52, 220-241 

Music, Provision of Free 100 

National Anthem Standardized 'il 

National Security League 34, 35 

Navy and Army. Working for (See Army and Navy) 62-64, 258-261 

Neighborhood Committee (Purposes, Organization, etc.) 27-29, 91-93 

Neighborhood Consolidation with County Auxiliary 15, 27, 90 

Neighborhood Committee Patriotic Gatherings 31, 192 

Newspapers, Contributions of 26, 100, 161 

News Service, by Publicity Department 25, 159 

Non-War Construction „ 56, 100, 245 

Northampton, Bishop of, Visit of 101 



280 INDEX 

Page No. 

Northcliffe, Lord, Visit of 32 

Office Space, Donated (See also Financial Statement of Council) 9 

Officers of Council, Duties and Powers 80 

Officers and Members of Council, List of v, 82 

Officers and Assistants, State Council 80 

Organization of Council by Counties (Counties Auxiliary, Neighborhood 

Committee, Cook County Auxiliary) 15, 83 

Organization Committee (Women) 113 

Organization by Wards (Women) 156 

Organization by Exemption Districts (Cook County Auxiliary) 98 

Patriotic Enterprises, Profits from 21 

Patriotic Food Show ^"^^ 203 

Patriotic Literature, Distribution of 92 

Place of Meeting, of Council 9, 78 

Powers of Committees of Council 80, 81 

Powers of State Council of Defense 8, 77 

Profiteering (License Committee for War Aid and War Charities). ...69, 268-270 

Publicity Committee (Women) 118 

Publicity Department (State Council), Co-operation of Newspapers, 

etc 25, 159-161 

Public Health 76, 264 

Public Health, Resolutions to General Assembly 72, 7A 

Public Service Reserve 67, 246 

Qualifications of Members of Council 8, 77 

Recreation for Soldiers and Sailors 63, 259 

Recreation for Girls 152 

Recruiting, Marine 99 

Red Cross, Christmas Roll Call 101 

Red Cross, Investigations 99 

Registration (Women) 122 

Reserve Militia 52, 220-241 

Resolutions to General Assembly by Council 7i 

Resolutions on Death of John P. Hopkins 8, 79 

Report of Auditor on Finances of Council 103 

Roumanian Minister, Visit of 32 

Rules of Council (Including List of Standing Committees, etc.) 9, 80 

Salvation Army Drive 99 

Sanitation, Medicine and Public Health, Committee on 67, 68, 264, 265 

School Halls, Use of 101 

Schools— Aid in Many Ways (U. S. Boys' Working Reserve) 34, 205-215 

Secretary, Assistant, Appointed 82 

Seed Corn 191, 192, 193, 200 

Shipbuilders, Provided for Navy Yards 57, 246 

Shipping Board Schools 61, 257 

Silos 200 

Social Hygiene 68, 148, 150, 265 

Social Service 148 

Solicitation of Funds, Illicit 69, 99, 268 

Speakers' Bureau 29, 93, 162, 163 

Speakers' Bureau (Women) 119 



INDEX 281 

Page No. 

Spy-Glasses, Telescopes and Binoculars (For Use of Navy) 60, 255 

State Council of Defense, Members, etc v, 82 

State Departments, Aid to Council 13 

State Fairs, Exhibits, etc 94 

Stenographic, Clerical and Other Assistance to State Council, How Pro- 
vided for 80 

Team Work by Counties, etc 16 

Telegraphers, Provided for Government 60, 256 

Telescopes, Etc., for Navy 60, 255 

Term of Office, Members of Council 11 

Thrift and Conservation Department (Women) 134 

Transportation of Freight by Highways 58, 59, 251-253 

Unified Bureau of Public Speakers 29, 93, 162, 163 

United War Work Campaign 100 

U. S. Boys' Working Reserve (Organization, etc.) 38, 94, 205 

U. S. Government War Exposition ZZ, 94, 184-186 

United States Shipping Board Schools 61, 257 

Victory Meetings 101 

Vocational Training (Resolution to General Assembly) 74 

Volunteer Placement (Women) 124 

Volunteer Service to State Council.... 9 

Volunteer Training Corps (Military) 52, 220-241 

War Board, Agricultural, for Illinois 201, 202 

War Business, for Illinois 65, 262, 263 

War Camp Community Service 63, 259 

War Chest Plan for Raising Money 90 

War Gardens 47, 197-199 

War Information (Women) 116 

War Savings Campaign 1(X) 

War Recreation Service 63, 259 

Ward Organization (Women) ; 156 

Wheat Crops 40, 199, 200 

Winding Up Council's Affairs 75 

Woman's Committee (Purposes, Organization, Officers, Departments, 

etc.) 22-25, 105-158 

Allied Relief 154 

Americanization 154 

Child Welfare 138 

Courses of Instruction 127 

Employment 129 

Finance 112-115 

Food Conservation Bureau and Demonstration Station 136 

Food Production 133 

Fuel Conservation 138 

Illinois Training Farm for Women 131 

Liberty Choruses and Community Singing 153 

Liberty Loan 156 

Publicity 118 

Recreation for Girls 152 

Registration 122 



282 



INDEX 

Page No. 

Social Hygiene jcq 

Social Service j^o 

Thrift and Conservation J34 

Volunteer Placement and Filing j24 

War Information jj^ 

Women and Children in Industry I44 



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